Why the Swiss just said no to expanding their highways

Initially, the goal was to solve the problem of traffic jams by adding more lanes to certain highway sections. However, a decision at the ballot box took a different direction. Let’s analyze this decision through the lens of quality versus quantity, of efficiency versus waste.

Why are there traffic jams on the roads? It’s not simply because roads are too narrow, but primarily because there are too many vehicles. Numerous studies have explored this issue. As long as traffic flows smoothly, people tend to use their cars. When roads become congested, most will turn to alternative modes of transport. The tipping point lies around a balance where there are roughly 10% too many vehicles. This surplus creates congestion, extending travel times but not rendering trips impossible. Expanding roads merely delays the problem, eventually leading to even more congestion in the medium term.

So, let’s think differently. The real target is those 10% of vehicles—by making traffic more efficient, by streamlining our journeys without multiplying lanes. There is no shortage of solutions. For instance, increasing the average vehicle occupancy rate from 1.1 people per car to 1.25 would reduce the number of vehicles by exactly 10%. Apps exist to optimize traffic, help choose less busy travel times, combine individual and public transportation, or encourage remote work. These measures make us more efficient, save time, protect the environment, and avoid the billions that road expansion would have cost.

This popular vote transcends the issue of infrastructure: it’s a mature reaction, a logical commitment. Citizens opposed highway expansion not to increase congestion, but to reduce it! Rather than succumbing to the ease of pouring more concrete, they seemingly chose to rethink their modes of transportation. This decision asserts that our future demands smarter, more sustainable solutions that align with the environmental challenges of our century.

Rejecting expansion means rejecting yesterday’s solutions. It’s a statement that progress is not about expansion but optimization—efficiency, a value so dear to the entire team at the Solar Impulse Foundation. Efficiency, far from being a constraint, becomes an opportunity to transform our limits into levers: better quality of life, reduced waste, smoother and cleaner mobility. This isn’t just an environmental issue; it’s pure economic pragmatism. Each year, efficiency could generate trillions of dollars in global savings. Imagine what we could achieve by reinvesting that money wisely.

This debate goes beyond Swiss borders. It’s part of a global context where every country is being urged to reinvent its infrastructure to address climate challenges. Efficiency, sustainability, and innovation are no longer aspirations—they are the spearheads of international discussions, from COP29 to local energy transition initiatives. Refusing to keep building outdated infrastructure sends a clear signal: we need to optimize what we already have, and our efficiency goals must guide our decisions.

With over 1,600 solutions labeled by the Solar Impulse Foundation, we have proof that doing more with less is not only desirable but already achievable. These solutions are ready to improve our quality of life without sacrificing the environment—through innovation, efficiency, and common sense. So, let’s scale them up!