AUGUSZT THE DRIVING INSTUCTOR : The Driving School in Dresden with English lessons

Switzerland Autobahn United States Interstate
Route marker used
Red hexagon with white numbers on a white rectangular field.

Red and blue cutout shield with white numbers. Sometimes, the state name may be on top of the blue field.

Exit numbering Like California, Switzerland does not number exits. Exits are known by interchange names, but unlike Germany, interchange names are not posted on guide signs. Depends on the state.
Speed Limit 130 km/h maximun. Most citizens keep their cars at that speed limit. Trucks and busses have an 100 km/h maximun speed limit. Lower speed limits may be imposed in urban areas and in construction zones. Depends on the state. Ranges between 65-75 mph in rural areas and 50-60 mph in urban areas. Montana has a "reasonable and prudent" speed limit -- which states that there is no daytime speed limit as long the conditions are perfect (put it in another way: drive to the flow of traffic). However, don't drive below 5 mph over the posted speed limit, but not above 10 mph unless necessary.
Toll motorways All autobahns in Switzerland are toll operated by the national government. Depends on the state. About 1/3 of the states have toll motorways, some operated by the state, others by private corporations.
"E-Z Pass" on toll motorways Mandatory. Cars are required to have a window decal sticker on the vehicle in order to travel the Swiss Autobahn. Owners must contribue 40 Swiss Francs (about $35 US dollars) to the treasury for these decals, which are available at the border offices and some other government places. Those decals are good for 1 year. Another fact: Switzerland does not have toll booths on their autobahns. Since tollways are operated by different companies, it depends on the state. States in the northeastern part of the United States have an "E-Z Pass" system implemented, where people that travel tollways frequently can pay a certain fee to implement an electronic device in their cars for a certain amount of time. All states with tollways also have toll booths, where people can use "exact-change" lanes, or use lanes with cashiers.
Right passing No rule No rule
Distance signs Follows European Union standards: all route numbers on a particular section of road is mounted on distance signs. The route numbers are posted at the bottom of the distance sign. Above the route markers are the distances of the nearest major cities, all in kilometers. Depends on the state. Most states have the nearest exit and the control city posted in distances in miles (a few of them have them in kilometers, too.) Any highways on distance signs are spelled out (except Flordia, which uses highway shields). Unlike Europe, route numbers are not posted on distance signs -- they are posted on stand-alone signs.
Control signs Route numbers are posted on the bottom of the signs. Switzerland follows EU standards on control signs, with control cities on top of the signs and the route numbers and arrows on the bottom. Route numbers and cardinial directions (North, South, East, West) are posted on the top of the sign. Below the route numbers is the control city of that highway. Arrows are at the bottom of the sign. All states but a few uses the down arrows on the control signs.
Posting all simoutaneous routes All routes are posted on distance signs under EU standards. Depends on the state. While some states post all routes, a few only post one or two and hide the rest.
Agressive driving ban Very strict enforcement. Switzerland has some strict fines for people caught for reckless driving, which may include jailtime. Depends on the state. Enforcement is more likely on urban highways than on highways in rural areas. Fines for reckless driving vary from state to state.
Numbering rules There is no numbering rule in Switzerland. 1 and 2-digit Odd numbers go north/south and even numbers go east/west. 100 and 101 count as 2-digit routes. For 3-digit routes, they follow their parent 2-digit number. If their parent is a 1-digit route, their number is x0Y, where Y is the 1-digit parent route and X is their number. States cannot use the same 3-digit number twice.
Motorway kinds. Autobahns are generally 4 lane, controlled access highways. Some autobahns in urban areas are 6 lanes. The A-8 near Lucerne is a "super-two". Controlled access highways. Rural highways are either "super-twos" (getting phrased out though sections of I-70 and I-80 in Utah and I-77 in West Virginia were super-twos until about 10 years ago), are 4 lane, divided highways. Urban highways and some busy interstates can range from 6 to 20 lanes.

	Switzerland Autobahn	United States Interstate
Route marker used	Red hexagon with white numbers on a white rectangular field.	Red and blue cutout shield with white numbers. Sometimes, the state name may be on top of the blue field.
Exit numbering	Like California, Switzerland does not number exits. Exits are known by interchange names, but unlike Germany, interchange names are not posted on guide signs.	Depends on the state.
Speed Limit	130 km/h maximun. Most citizens keep their cars at that speed limit. Trucks and busses have an 100 km/h maximun speed limit. Lower speed limits may be imposed in urban areas and in construction zones.	Depends on the state. Ranges between 65-75 mph in rural areas and 50-60 mph in urban areas. Montana has a "reasonable and prudent" speed limit -- which states that there is no daytime speed limit as long the conditions are perfect (put it in another way: drive to the flow of traffic). However, don't drive below 5 mph over the posted speed limit, but not above 10 mph unless necessary.
Toll motorways	All autobahns in Switzerland are toll operated by the national government.	Depends on the state. About 1/3 of the states have toll motorways, some operated by the state, others by private corporations.
"E-Z Pass" on toll motorways	Mandatory. Cars are required to have a window decal sticker on the vehicle in order to travel the Swiss Autobahn. Owners must contribue 40 Swiss Francs (about $35 US dollars) to the treasury for these decals, which are available at the border offices and some other government places. Those decals are good for 1 year. Another fact: Switzerland does not have toll booths on their autobahns.	Since tollways are operated by different companies, it depends on the state. States in the northeastern part of the United States have an "E-Z Pass" system implemented, where people that travel tollways frequently can pay a certain fee to implement an electronic device in their cars for a certain amount of time. All states with tollways also have toll booths, where people can use "exact-change" lanes, or use lanes with cashiers.
Right passing	No rule	No rule
Distance signs	Follows European Union standards: all route numbers on a particular section of road is mounted on distance signs. The route numbers are posted at the bottom of the distance sign. Above the route markers are the distances of the nearest major cities, all in kilometers.	Depends on the state. Most states have the nearest exit and the control city posted in distances in miles (a few of them have them in kilometers, too.) Any highways on distance signs are spelled out (except Flordia, which uses highway shields). Unlike Europe, route numbers are not posted on distance signs -- they are posted on stand-alone signs.
Control signs	Route numbers are posted on the bottom of the signs. Switzerland follows EU standards on control signs, with control cities on top of the signs and the route numbers and arrows on the bottom.	Route numbers and cardinial directions (North, South, East, West) are posted on the top of the sign. Below the route numbers is the control city of that highway. Arrows are at the bottom of the sign. All states but a few uses the down arrows on the control signs.
Posting all simoutaneous routes	All routes are posted on distance signs under EU standards.	Depends on the state. While some states post all routes, a few only post one or two and hide the rest.
Agressive driving ban	Very strict enforcement. Switzerland has some strict fines for people caught for reckless driving, which may include jailtime.	Depends on the state. Enforcement is more likely on urban highways than on highways in rural areas. Fines for reckless driving vary from state to state.
Numbering rules	There is no numbering rule in Switzerland.	1 and 2-digit Odd numbers go north/south and even numbers go east/west. 100 and 101 count as 2-digit routes. For 3-digit routes, they follow their parent 2-digit number. If their parent is a 1-digit route, their number is x0Y, where Y is the 1-digit parent route and X is their number. States cannot use the same 3-digit number twice.
Motorway kinds.	Autobahns are generally 4 lane, controlled access highways. Some autobahns in urban areas are 6 lanes. The A-8 near Lucerne is a "super-two".	Controlled access highways. Rural highways are either "super-twos" (getting phrased out though sections of I-70 and I-80 in Utah and I-77 in West Virginia were super-twos until about 10 years ago), are 4 lane, divided highways. Urban highways and some busy interstates can range from 6 to 20 lanes.