The purposes of travel of people living in Switzerland and those living abroad differ quite considerably. Road vehicles with Swiss number plates crossed the country's borders mainly for leisure activities and shopping. In 2021, these two purposes accounted for over a third (38% and 35%) of border crossings. In contrast, commuting accounted for a comparatively small percentage at 16%.
For foreign vehicles, however, commuting held a clear lead with 46% of border crossings in 2021. Leisure traffic accounted for just under a third (31%) and shopping traffic made up only a seventh (14%) of inbound and outbound traffic. These percentages can vary considerably depending on the border section.
