Physician calls for stricter testing for older drivers; dogs in Zurich are to be leashed from April 1st; and more Swiss news in our Thursday roundup.
Physician calls for stricter testing for older drivers
Traffic accidents caused by senior drivers are steadily increasing.
According to the Federal Roads Office, drivers over 70 had caused 5,505 accidents in 2025, that is 600 more than people in younger age groups.
Traffic physician Rolf Seeger said cognitive abilities decline at 80, calling for the compulsory annual driving tests starting at this age, instead of every two years as is currently the case.
Dogs in Zurich are to be leashed from April 1st
As dogs can be dangerous to ground-nesting birds and young wild animals born during the summer months, the canton mandates that all dogs be leashed from April 1st until July 31st.
Anyone who violates this rule will be fined 60 francs.
Police, game wardens, rangers, and hunting district supervisors are authorised to enforce the leash law and issue fines for violations.
READ MORE: Where and when must dogs be kept on a leash in Switzerland?
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Car insurance premiums in Switzerland have risen significantly in five years
Premiums have increased by approximately 20 percent since 2020, according to Comparis consumer platform.
The reason is the rising cost of spare parts and repairs: the cost of parts has gone up by 19.1 percent in five years, while service and repair costs have climbed by 8.1 percent.
“In recent years, the increasing number of expensive electronic components in new cars has led to more complex repairs and more costly replacement parts, such as rearview mirrors with sensors and cameras, LED headlights, and calibration of driver assistance systems – and therefore to a sharp rise in premiums,” said Comparis expert Dirk Renkert.
“Furthermore, the increase in claims, such as hail damage, has driven up costs as well,” he added.
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EuroAirport Basel announces eight new routes for summer
From March 29th and until October 27th, EuroAirport will add eight new flights to its timetable.
They include Bodrum (Turkey), Chisinau (Moldova), Lille (France), Podgorica (Montenegro). Stockholm, Warsaw and Poznan (both in Poland), and Tirgu Mureș (Romania)
However, these (and almost all other) flights will be suspended between April 15th and May 20th while the airport will be renovating its main runway, causing all but one of its airlines to cancel their flights during this time.
EasyLet will be the only one operating, with a limited flight schedule.
READ MORE: Basel airport to slash flights in spring 2026 with only one airline to operate
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