Brit biker banned in Switzerland over tunnel rules
A British rider is said to be facing huge fines of more than £11,000 for violating overtaking rules in Switzerland.
To reword a famous Oscar Wilde quote: To violate traffic law once may be regarded as a misfortune; to do it 47 times in a row looks like carelessness. But that is what a British rider reportedly did when riding through the Gotthard Strasstunnel, in Switzerland.
For those of you that don’t know or have never ridden the near 17km (10.5-mile) tunnel, there are strict rules against overtaking. The tunnel features single carriageways throughout and has double lines from start to finish.
Additionally, the tunnel has numerous cameras, both to catch speeders and monitor activity within the tunnel. So, any attempt to go against the infamously rule-abiding Swiss way of doing things is simultaneously stupid and almost certain to earn you fines and a stern talking to from authorities.
The British rider chose to ignore all of this, and as a result was ultimately found guilty of overtaking two heavy duty vehicles and 45 cars, resulting in a total 47 passes, each of which carries a fine of around 270 Swiss franc (roughly £250).
What prompted the rider to do this is not exactly clear, but a public prosecutor's office filed charges for serious violations of the Federal Act on Road Traffic and for driving in an unsuitable condition.
This means the rider could have been suffering from being over tired, or driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medications.
Due to cameras inside the tunnel alerting local police, the rider’s antics caught up to him as he exited the tunnel, and he was stopped immediately. He was then issued with the many tickets he faced, and subsequent large bill, which is believed to be somewhere in the region of £11,000.
It’s not clear whether the rider was also arrested for his violation of the tunnel’s rules, but he did receive a lifetime riding ban in Switzerland.
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
