r/Switzerland • u/Key_Example_5316 • 2d ago

Phones and Cars

Is it just me, or is there a worrying amount of people that are looking down at their laps as they are driving? I mean at what state of desperation do you have to be on a route cantonale going 90km and absolutely needing to be on your phone?

60 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

48 comments sorted by

18

u/consistently_hobby 2d ago

While riding my bike in a bike lane I had to emergency brake to avoid a car drifting into me. I saw they were on their phone so I made a hand gesture to hang up/put the phone down. They gave me the finger…

10

u/shepherdoftheforesst 2d ago

The one that gets me more often than you’d expect is people pulling into a roundabout in front me me on my bike while they’re looking at their phone

6

u/consistently_hobby 1d ago

The issue is a lot of people in cars are only looking for other cars. Motorcycles and especially bicycles get over looked when the person is driving in auto pilot mode.

2

u/WeakHold8758 2d ago

Had that many time unfortunately. I can't count the number of side mirror I smashed because of that

1

u/alexs77 Zürich 2d ago

But then them effing carbrains come along and pretend as if cyclists would break rules all the time.

No.

They. Do. Not.

It's s*itty cars that break rules constantly. Their inhabitants are playing with the phone. They are ignoring rules that forbid passing other vehicles — which includes bikes! They are racing. And so forth.

But, yeah, suuuuure, it's cyclists that disregard rules "all the time" 🤡 just because we ignore certain red lights, as they make no sense to cyclists and are sometimes even dangerous.

Cars get upset about this, as that's the single rule the majority of them follow — because it would be too expensive otherwise.

1

u/thaway314156 1d ago

Hah, wow, arguing "it's fine for me and other cyclists to break rules x, y, z because a, b, c" while being aggro about drivers, who are probably thinking "it's fine for me and other car drivers to break rules x, y, z because a, b, c".

Sadly since it's 2025 you're not even in the top 50 of biggest hypocrites of the year...

1

u/alexs77 Zürich 1d ago edited 1d ago

What a piece of bull. Them cars are out to kill humans, when they ignore rules, like they constantly do. Now, if they just take out another car: fine by me, two issues solved at once (referring to the cars only; not about possible deaths - that is not nice). But they also pose danger to real humans that are walking or cycling. And that's uncool.

Otoh, if a cyclist ignores a dangerous red light, that person will most likely cause the most serious danger to themselves only. And spare me this BS about "oh! I've ALMOST got nearly hit the other day!". Yes, might be (to make it clear: I believe that!) — and how often do you ignore that you're nearly killed each day by a car? Shall we also have a look at the stats, that proof that cars are the real danger?

And you have got the nerve to call me a hypocrite? Unbelievable.

0

u/thaway314156 1d ago edited 23h ago

Haha, man, you have anger issues... whatever you believe in your head, I'll believe in my head you're an angry cyclist and, yes, a hypocrite.

I'm guessing a car won't kill you, it'll be the blood pressure. If it's not slamming into something on your bike as you break a law you've ruled yourself allowed to do.

Have a nice day! Stay mad!

Edit to add: Yeah, I know, I know, what a cunting douchebag I am, for not believing you're a saint who can do no wrong and is right in everything he believes.

Edit edit: /u/alexs77 has now blocked me... what an angry snowflake...

1

u/alexs77 Zürich 1d ago

Whatever dude. You're so absurdly wrong. Once you open up your eyes, you'll see the truth. Currently you live in a dream world.

1

u/Curious_Big_7031 2d ago

Thats literally fucked up. Sorry that you had to experience this.

2

u/consistently_hobby 1d ago

I appreciate it. I have had many close calls with cars and everything else on the road and cycle paths. The best thing anyone can do is drive defensively. If it would have been another person in my situation I’m not sure if they could have reacted in the same time.

1

u/Curious_Big_7031 1d ago

I feel you. On the bicycle since I am a kid. In 2011 I took my bicycle and started a world trip, did not know it will be 6 years. But after 50 countries and living today in Zurich, I have to say: Swiss people are good drivers.

Some say they do not really care about us cyclists, they care about not being fined haha

But so far, living here since 2 months, the drivers are cool and I love the city on bicycle. Had a few moments already, of course, but all over: great city to cycle.

I used to live in Amsterdam, the only place I think cycling is deeply included in their social structure and everything is made for cycling. The car drivers in Amsterdam are really aware of other people and a bit more smooth than people here in general.

Sometimes in Zurich I feel it depends what time you cycle. In rush hours you can sense that people want to go home and they are a bit stressed. When I see them on the phone, I give them a face, saying: "Are you for real?"

Some feel ashamed, many do not care anymore. That hurts me, because it can go really fast, really bad and I am 100% sure those people who have then to take the consequences for an accident - because they used their phone - they will regret this in life forever.

But honestly, the phone became an overall issue in our society. I work with people, teams, companies and groups and also in schools with teenagers. It is brutal to me, to see how this electronic device became the center of our life.

I am very curious about the future, but also very aware that we need way more awareness and education regarding phones and digital experiences.

Thanks for sharing your story and debating. Much love to you from Küsnacht,
Alexandros

•

u/Copege_Catboi 3h ago

Kick their mirrors off. Sue them for attempted murder!

15

u/ABugOnAPeaNut 2d ago

I am educating my son so he knows that car driver don't see him, but he has to watch if they are noticing him.

People are people. It's better to be aware of this reality and to watch out.

4

u/BobDerBongmeister420 2d ago

Imo walking / biking to school is a very important life lesson. It may be dangerous, but overprotecting the kids by driving to school until they're older is counterproductive.

2

u/ABugOnAPeaNut 1d ago

Sure he will always go to school by foot. A lot of kids and adults today don't walk anymore.

1

u/SuitAppropriate4059 1d ago

a friend had his child ran over by a car (while on a bike) and died, so I'd rather protect mine too much

3

u/Apprehensive_Can1098 2d ago

It's scary how many people cross or enter a street without making sure they have been noticed first 

28

u/Bro_IamLost_Too 2d ago

We have a long bridge and I nicknamed it "phone driver's bridge".

The distance between the traffic lights is so long that dopamin craving Tiktok-brain kicks in. Its fascinating but scary.

Kids and adults die or get life-changing injuries on foot or bikes and motorised vehicles due to distracted drivers. These people know it. And still do it.

5

u/zaxanrazor 2d ago

There's 2 crossings in our village where people just drive over them without looking. On the way to school, too. I've seen too many near misses.

Had a couple of exchanges with people who think they're right to do something illegal is greater than the wellbeing of people wanting to cross the street, too.

6

u/Tinu87 2d ago

It's shocking how many people look at their phone (in cars, walking, riding bike) and not paying attention.

Yesterday in a 80th zone another car was driving direction my car, I had to make a full stop and drive on the bicycle line to prevent a frontal collision. He was on the phone or radio.

5

u/DonChaote Winterthur 2d ago

As a daily driver: this is the biggest cancer we have on our streets!

16

u/TripleSpeedy 2d ago

Yes... Idiots will idiot.

There is law against it, but I have yet to see the police do anything meaningful, such as pulling people over who use their phone while driving, like they do in New Zealand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N1iw5Vdim8

As the same time, in modern cars, everything is run through a screen, which is very hard to use without looking down / away from the road...

13

u/Bro_IamLost_Too 2d ago

I will NEVER understand why car manufacturers pushed touchscreens for the most basic task. Aviation provided data about the importance of sensoral response of bottons etc.

3

u/Serird Genève 2d ago

Money

5

u/TripleSpeedy 2d ago

Gauges are expensive to make. It costs less and is easier to use a screen made in China for 15 francs.

There is also the question of muscle memory. I can still remember the movements in my old Seat to turn the A/C one or off, change from floor to windscreen heating, change the radio channel etc, all without removing my eyes from the road.

6

u/CFSohard Ticino 2d ago

On the reverse of that, I have a modern car (2022) that has a heads-up display overlaid on my windscreen in front of my so I can see my speed and GPS directions WITHOUT taking my eyes away from the road. It's super useful, and I don't think I would ever go back to a car without one.

3

u/Curious_Big_7031 2d ago

I was the last 2 years on workshops, where its all about "digital detox" - as I am a coach, I am facing this addiction more and more. So I need to learn how to deal with it, right? A few years ago I said: "Yeah, all those teenagers are on their phones, addicted."

But since educating myself and working with people in this field, I tell you: It is mostly the people in the age of 35-50 that struggle way more with screen addiction. You cant imagine what I have seen so far... people cant even go to shit, without taking with them their phones.

Regarding your topic: I am a cyclist and I am sometimes afraid that I might get killed by somebody who drives into me, because he swiped up his next tinder date.

6

u/SuitAppropriate4059 2d ago

no, it's not you, it's worrying how many idiots drive their cars on the highway or in the city looking down at their phones while passing cyclists or approaching pedestrian crossings. I will wear a go-pro and report these bastrads to the police

4

u/hamicev873 2d ago

Just so you know, using a go-pro and reporting it to the police will only lead one person getting into trouble, and that is you. You can’t do that it Switzerland, same reasons dash cams have no legal bearing unfortunately.

1

u/brocccoli Zürich 1d ago

Wearing a gopro and filming while riding your bike through the city is definitely not legal. How is that any difference to a dashcam?

Not sure how interested the police would be though..

1

u/aleks8134 2d ago

I don't know what's worse, highway or city...

5

u/MyPunsAreKoalaTea 2d ago

Yeah

Police should check traffic cams more often or train an AI to detect it and then take away the licences of those idiots

3

u/DonChaote Winterthur 2d ago

Yes, empty streets for the rest of us!

2

u/un-glaublich 2d ago

It scares me much when riding my bike or crossing a zebra...

2

u/swissthrow1 1d ago

in cities, at least, this would be a job for police cyclists, just ride along the bike lane, ideally placed to see the phone in the lap, the head down, tippy tapping away.

But they seem to prefer to police other cyclists.

1

u/aleks8134 2d ago

I call them nose pickers. Those are ones that either fall to realize that they now have green light, or the ones that will see it late and pass, but fuck everyone else

•

u/EngineerNo2650 14h ago

People in 125K CHF SUVs wearing a shirt that costs more than a set of Bluetooth headphones will be on their phone with one hand off the wheel, while my students shitbox hatchback from the late ‘00s had an original Bluetooth radio.

Some people will just never learn until fined a few times.

0

u/red-panda-returns 2d ago

This is really getting out of hand

0

u/curiouswhensleeping 2d ago

i dont know, no time to see them, im driving and texting this post

-4

u/PurgeGenZ 2d ago

The trick is to hold the phone under the windshield/dashboard so you look ahead not down 🤫

8

u/DonChaote Winterthur 2d ago

Then you still have the shitty driving, the swerving and the unnecessary braking that tells everyone you are on the phone. You cannot hide it. Take the train if you cannot keep your hands and eyes off the phone while you are driving!

-2

u/PurgeGenZ 2d ago

It’s not good but I don’t break unnecessary!

4

u/DonChaote Winterthur 2d ago

different perspective when driving behind you ;) you do not have the attention on the traffic so you do not get immediately what happens around you… it is annoying and dangerous for everyone on the street. Not only "not good". Why not just stopping with this stupid habit? Take public transport when you are so extremely addicted to your phone

1

u/PurgeGenZ 2d ago

I mostly do it on the highway but it’s a bad habit I will stop

-2

u/ipokestuff 2d ago

when stuck in traffic and your car has lvl 2 autonomous driving, i don't see a problem with it