Once again, totally stumped by Swiss efficiency.

Hearing a loud noise, I instantly know that it is an accident and peeping through the kitchen doors see a small red car, at the centre of crossroads, totally smashed in front, bonnet and bumper. One glance and boy, am I glad to see that no one is hurt! The air bag obstructing the view hence the driver is not visible and a quick assessment from an aerial view and I am reassured that there are no casualties. The car had hit hard, ramming and uprooting two street signposts and dragged them a distance.

As I urgently roll up the blinds to assess the incident, et voilà, even before I stepped out into the balcony, two young passers-by have already stepped in, to help regulate the traffic and clear the dangerous debris along with the sign posts, ensuring no follow up accidents ensued and put up an ‘Achtung’ sign that is a mandatory car accessory, ironically or should I say, statutorily. Even before I can put on my thinking cap, the resident of the house opposite runs to rescue the car driver. A rather young damsel in distress steps out and thankfully, is unhurt although noticeably, in a state of shock.

Within minutes, the police show up and take charge of the situation, followed soon by paramedics to ensure the safety and well-being of the driver and the two young Samaritans are off on their way again.

The fire department comes along with the tow-truck arrive shorty after to clear further debris, take photographs and complete their incident report.

The street cleaner appears as the car gets towed away and does an immaculate job of cleaning any semblance of accident wreckage.

An unbelievable and almost clinical display of traffic and order, the human touch was not missed. Almost as though there exists an unspoken Swiss law on dealing with an accident or emergency in the most orderly fashion. Interesting to observe as I witnessed for the first time, was a mechanical sense of law and order, an absolute lack of chaos and no disruption of traffic at an accident site.

So to say, within an hour and half after the accident, the street was spotlessly clean, a temporary signpost erected and everything back to normal, seriously Swiss. Monday morning, it will be business as usual and one very unhappy insurance company.