News >  Current law of the month >

Previous laws of the month

• Drivers must not get within 200 feet of the rear of a snowplow - November 2008
• State law stipulates when headlights must be turned on - October 2008
• Vehicles must stop for school buses displaying flashing lights - September 2008
• Slower traffic keep right: Drivers must allow faster traffic to pass in the left lane on divided highways - August 2008
• Traffic citation fines are double in work zones - July 2008
• Save money by slowing down - June 2008
• Drivers must yield to pedestrians - May 2008
• Wisconsin's "Absolute Sobriety Law" means not a drop of alcohol for drivers under 21 - April 2008
• Drivers must provide a safety zone for stopped law enforcement vehicles - March 2008
• Eliminate distractions: Please give driving your undivided attention - February 2008
• What is the real cause of wintertime crashes? - January 2008
• Drunken driving can ruin your holidays - December 2007

November 2008

Drivers must not get within 200 feet of the rear of a snowplow

With winter on its way, it won't be long before snowplows are out in force on streets and highways. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) reminds motorists that snowplows are built for power-not agility-so they need plenty of space to do their job.

"Most of the collisions between snowplows and other vehicles occur when the snowplow is rear-ended," said Superintendent David Collins of the WisDOT Division of State Patrol. "Snowplows may have to slow down or stop suddenly if they encounter an obstacle, like a stuck or stalled vehicle. When visibility is poor, you might not see the snowplow's taillights until it's too late. To avoid rear-end collisions, you have to slow down and stay back at least 200 feet from the rear of the snowplow."

According to state law it is illegal to "follow a snowplow closer than 200 feet upon any highway having a posted speed limit of more than 35 mph if the snowplow is engaged in highway winter maintenance snow and ice removal."

A citation for violating this law costs $160.80 with three demerit points assessed on the driver's license. A second or subsequent offense within a year costs $198.60 with three demerit points."

Superintendent Collins added, "If you approach an oncoming snowplow on a two-lane road, it's wise to slow down and proceed with caution because the snow blowing from the plow may limit your visibility."

With their power and size, snowplows can clear paths for motorists even in the most extreme weather conditions. In return, drivers can help snowplows perform this important traffic safety task by giving them room to maneuver.

Return to top

October 2008

State law stipulates when headlights must be turned on

With the hours of daylight beginning to dwindle this time of year, drivers must turn on their headlights more frequently to see and be seen by other motorists.

According to state law, you must use headlights while driving during the period beginning 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise and at any other time you cannot see a vehicle or person on the roadway at a distance of 500 feet.

"To increase headlight effectiveness, you should use high beams whenever there are no oncoming vehicles because high beams let you see twice as far," said State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. "But you must dim your high beams whenever you approach an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet, which is about one-tenth of a mile. High beams also should be dimmed when you are 500 feet or less behind another vehicle or when traffic is heavy. Low beams should be used when driving in fog, snow or heavy rain because the light from high beams will reflect off the precipitation and cause glare. Don't drive with only your parking lights on. Parking lights are for parking only."

A citation for failing to use headlights when required or failing to dim high beams within 500 feet of another vehicle will cost drivers $148.20 plus three demerit points on their record.

"Besides helping you see the road and other vehicles, headlights also make your vehicle more visible to other drivers," Superintendent Collins said. "This is especially true on rainy, snowy or foggy days. A sensible rule to follow is that if you turn on your windshield wipers also turn on your headlights."

Return to top

September 2008

Vehicles must stop for school buses displaying flashing lights

School buses are some of the safest vehicles on the road today. To ensure their continued safe operation, each school bus in Wisconsin is inspected every year by the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Although school buses have a commendable safety record for transporting passengers, tragedy can strike when students rush to get on or off their bus and unexpectedly dart into traffic. Because young children may be hard to see until its too late, motorists must be extremely cautious when driving near school buses and obey laws designed to protect bus riders.

According to Wisconsin law, when approaching a school bus from the front or rear, drivers must stop at least 20 feet from the bus when it is stopped and displaying flashing red lights. Drivers may not proceed until after the bus resumes its route or turns off the flashing red warning lights. Drivers also may not pass a stopped school bus in order to make a right turn. Drivers on the other side of a divided highway from a bus with flashing red lights are not required to stop.

"Officers from the State Patrol and other agencies stringently enforce laws requiring motorists to stop for school buses with flashing red lights," says State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. "Besides law enforcement officers, school bus drivers legally may report any violations involving passing or turning in front of their buses. The owner of the vehicle, who might not be the offending driver, will then be responsible for paying the citation."

A citation for failure of a vehicle to stop for a school bus costs $312 and four demerit points. A citation for an illegal right turn in front of a stopped school bus costs $312 and three demerit points. If reported by a school bus driver, the vehicle owner's liability for the illegal passing of a bus will cost $312 with no demerit points.

"Violations of school bus safety laws are serious and expensive for a very good reason. Drivers must always be aware that children might not be paying attention and don't see oncoming vehicles when they get on or off a bus." says Superintendent Collins. "As we start another school year, drivers need to remember to stop when they approach a bus with flashing red lights."

Return to top

August 2008

Slower traffic keep right: Drivers must allow faster traffic to pass in the left lane on divided highways

According to a hit-song of the 1970s, life in the fast lane will surely make you lose your mind. To protect your sanity as well as your safety, it's often wise to let faster-moving vehicles just pass you by. This is especially true while driving on Interstate highways and other multiple-lane roadways. If you're traveling slower than other vehicles, you can help traffic move more safely and efficiently by staying in the right lane as much as possible.

According to Wisconsin law, any vehicle traveling "at less than the normal speed of traffic" is required to be driven in the right lane (or as close as practicable) except when overtaking or passing another vehicle. A citation for violating this law costs $198.60 with four demerit points assessed on the driver's license.

"Even when you're driving at the posted speed limit, you should allow faster moving vehicles to pass. Trying to force other drivers to slow down by blocking the left lane does not make our highways safer. Instead, it can lead to more tailgating, road rage and other problems," says State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. "We hope that drivers will leave enforcement of speed limits to our troopers and other law enforcement officers."

The State Patrol advises motorists to follow these guidelines to help maintain a safe flow of traffic on Interstates and other divided highways:

• If you're not passing another vehicle, use the right lane as much as possible.

• If you're in the right lane, allow other drivers to merge from the left lane into the right lane so that faster traffic can pass in the left lane. In addition, provide space for vehicles to merge into the right lane when they are entering a roadway from an on-ramp.

• If you're in the left lane, don't tailgate or try to make a slower vehicle ahead of you move to the right lane. Be patient and courteous.

Superintendent Collins says, "When slower moving vehicles use the right lane, traffic flows more smoothly with less congestion and road rage, which certainly helps make our highways safer and more efficient."

Return to top

July 2008

Traffic citation fines are double in work zones

In the wake of devastating flooding and storm damage in the southern third of Wisconsin, countless local streets, county highways and major freeways will need extensive repairs. In addition, routine summertime road construction is in full swing in other parts of the state.

With so many roads under construction, motorists now face the challenge of safely maneuvering through work zones.

"Driving through a work zone requires patience. Work zones are dangerous under the best of circumstances, but your reaction time and margin for error are reduced significantly if you speed, tailgate or don't pay attention to rapidly changing traffic situations," State Patrol Superintendent David Collins says. "In work zones, workers and equipment often are operating within a few feet of traffic. In addition, work zones frequently have narrow lanes, different merge lanes from side roads, and rough or uneven pavement. Rear-end collisions are the most frequent type of crash in a work zone. Although construction workers are at a great risk of being hit, about three out of four people killed in work zone crashes are motorists."

To prevent crashes and save lives, fines for traffic violations in work zones are double the usual amounts when workers are present. Posted work zone speed limits are still in force even when workers are not present.

"The total costs for speeding in excess of the posted limit in a work zone range from $198 for 1 to 10 mph over the limit all the way up to $879 for 45 mph or more over the limit. You also could have between three and six demerit points added to your driving record," Superintendent David Collins says. "State Patrol officers are specifically assigned to many work zones, and they will strictly enforce posted speed limits and other traffic laws. We are trying to protect both workers and motorists in work zones."

Return to top

June 2008

Save money by slowing down

With no end in sight to record-high gas prices, many motorists are taking significant steps to cut their driving costs, such as buying more fuel-efficient vehicles or using alternative forms of transportation.

Yet one of the best ways to lessen the pain at the gas pump is often ignored-obeying speed limits. This common-sense practice pays off in two ways.

• By slowing down, you'll save gas. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. As a rule of thumb, each 5 mph over 60 mph equals paying an additional 20 cents per gallon.

• By obeying speed limits, you eliminate the risk of receiving extremely expensive speeding citations, which range from $160 for 1 to 10 mph over the limit all the way up to $501 for 45 mph or more over the limit. If you speed in a work zone, the fines double. Speeding citations also result in demerit points and possible suspensions that drive up insurance costs.

But the real cost of speeding is not financial. All too often, speeding has a far more tragic toll.

"In Wisconsin, someone is killed or injured in a speed-related crash every 51 minutes. Speeding makes crashes more violent and drastically reduces survivability for drivers and passengers," says State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. "If they're over the speed limit, drivers often can't react or stop in time to prevent or avoid a crash. They also may lose control of their vehicle and fail to negotiate curves. Furthermore, drivers traveling at high speeds on the open road tend to not slow down sufficiently when approaching intersections, construction zones or slower vehicles."

To save lives and prevent serious injuries, the State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies are intensifying their enforcement of speed limits this summer.

"Stringent enforcement is needed because speeding is all too prevalent on highways and local roads. In 2007, there were nearly one-quarter million speeding convictions in Wisconsin, including approximately 146,000 for 11 to 19 mph over the limit. Speeding is by far the most common traffic conviction in Wisconsin," says Superintendent Collins.

Despite the expense and dangers of speeding, too many people willingly exceed posted limits just to save a little time. But as Superintendent Collins points out, "If you're stopped for speeding or are involved in a crash, you will be delayed for a lot longer than it takes to drive the speed limit."

Return to top

May 2008

Drivers must yield to pedestrians

With skyrocketing gas prices, many people are rediscovering that walking is a great way to cut fuel consumption and get much needed exercise, as well. But with more pedestrians crossing streets and busy intersections, motorists must keep in mind that Wisconsin law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in many situations.

According to state law, drivers are required to yield to pedestrians:

• Who have started crossing an intersection or crosswalk on a walk signal or on a green light if there's no walk signal.

• Who are crossing the road within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection where there are no traffic lights or control signals.

• When a vehicle is crossing a sidewalk or entering an alley or driveway.

In addition, drivers may not legally overtake and pass any vehicle that has stopped for pedestrians at an intersection or crosswalk.

Drivers who fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians who are legally crossing roadways may be issued citations that cost approximately $160 to $217 (depending on the type of violation) along with four demerit points assessed on their license. A citation for passing a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians costs $312 with three demerit points.

"Last year in Wisconsin, 52 pedestrians were killed and 1,349 were injured in traffic crashes," said State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. "To prevent needless deaths and injuries, drivers must slow down and pay attention, so they can safely yield to pedestrians. Drivers should be particularly alert in areas where children often cross roads, such as near schools, parks, playgrounds and residential neighborhoods. Pedestrians also must be cautious, and they should not suddenly move into the path of a vehicle that does not have sufficient time to yield."

Return to top

April 2008

Wisconsin's "Absolute Sobriety Law" means not a drop of alcohol for drivers under 21

After a brutal winter, spring fever will be contagious in April-especially among young people. And during this upcoming season of proms, graduation parties, and outdoor activities, young drivers may be tempted to get behind the wheel after drinking.

In their quest for springtime fun, however, everyone under the age of 21 should be aware that they are required by Wisconsin law to maintain absolute sobriety when driving. This means that their blood or breath alcohol concentration must be 0.0 while operating a motor vehicle, including motorcycles.

Drivers under age 21 who violate the Absolute Sobriety Law will have their license suspended for 90 days and will receive a citation costing $375 with four demerit points assessed on their driver's license. If a passenger under the age of 16 is in the vehicle, violators will have their license suspended for six months, and they must pay $627 with four demerit points assessed on their license.

"Springtime celebrations can quickly turn to tragedies when young people drink and drive," says State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. "Driving skills at any age are easily impaired with just a small amount of alcohol. But young and inexperienced drivers are much more prone to fatal and serious injury crashes after drinking. In Wisconsin, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for youths, ages 16 to 20. As young people begin the countdown to the end of the school year, we don't want to lose them because of a disastrous decision, like drinking and driving."

Return to top

March 2008

Drivers must provide a safety zone for stopped law enforcement vehicles

State Patrol and other law enforcement officers continually train in ways to protect themselves and others from deadly force. But despite their best precautions, an all too prevalent type of deadly force leaves officers basically defenseless. While working on the side of a road during a traffic stop or to assist a motorist, officers continually face the lethal danger of being hit by fast-moving vehicles that come within a few feet-or even inches-of where they're standing or parked.

To help safeguard law enforcement officers, as well as emergency responders, road maintenance workers, and others who work on the side of highways, Wisconsin has a "Move Over Law." The law requires drivers to shift lanes or slow down in order to provide a "safety zone" for a squad car, ambulance, fire truck, tow truck or highway maintenance vehicle that is stopped on the side of a road with its warning lights flashing.

Drivers have two options for creating a safety zone. "If the road has more than one directional lane, like the Interstate, and you can switch lanes safely, you must move over to vacate the lane closest to the law enforcement or other vehicle with its lights flashing," says State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. "If the road has a single directional lane or you can't safely move over, you must reduce your speed."

The cost for violating the Move Over Law is expensive. If you get a ticket, it will cost $249 and you will be assessed three demerit points on your license.

Signs to remind motorists about the Move Over Law are posted on highways near main entry points to Wisconsin. They read: "STATE LAW. MOVE OVER OR SLOW DOWN FOR STOPPED EMERGENCY VEHICLES."

"Failure of motorists to move over is one of the reasons that motor vehicle crashes kill more law enforcement officers on duty than any other cause," says Superintendent Collins. "Obeying the Move Over Law will prevent needless crashes and help protect motorists as well our officers."

Return to top

February 2008

Eliminate distractions: Please give driving your undivided attention

You probably would question the judgment and common sense of anyone who talks on a cell phone, eats a meal or reads a map while handling a lethal weapon? Yet many drivers engage in these distracting activities while trying to control the potentially destructive-even deadly-power of a motor vehicle.

If you're not paying attention while behind the wheel to traffic conditions and road hazards, you drastically increase the chances of causing a crash or failing to avoid one. Eliminating distractions while driving is especially important during winter months when snow, fog and other types of inclement weather can severely reduce your visibility as well as your vehicle's traction and stopping ability.

"Distracted and inattentive driving is a serious safety problem," says State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. "Using a cell phone while driving is often mentioned as a dangerous distraction, but there are many others, too. Our officers often see drivers putting on cosmetics, looking in mirrors to comb their hair, and rummaging around for items on the floor, on the dashboard or in the glove compartment instead of paying attention to what's going on around them. Drivers also are distracted when they focus on a crash scene or other situations on the side of a road instead of what's in front of them."

Because distracted driving is so dangerous, state law prohibits drivers from being "so engaged or occupied as to interfere with the safe driving of that vehicle." Violating this law costs $173.40 with four demerit points assessed on a driver's license.

"Driving a motor vehicle is the single-most dangerous thing most people do, and it requires your undivided attention. If you absolutely need to use a cell phone for a non-emergency call, read a map, or find something in the glove compartment, you should exit the highway or pull off the road into a safe area," says Superintendent Collins. "By paying strict attention to your driving, you'll protect yourself, your passengers and other drivers."

Return to top

January 2008

What is the real cause of wintertime crashes?

Ice and snow on roadways are often blamed for wintertime traffic crashes. But all too often, blaming winter weather hides the real culprits for crashes.

"Most wintertime crashes are caused by irresponsible decisions by drivers, like driving too fast for conditions, not the ice or snow on roads," says State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. "If more drivers would slow down when highways are slippery, fewer vehicles would end up in the ditch. There also would be fewer rear-end collisions and other crashes. When road conditions are treacherous or visibility is reduced, driving at the speed limit may actually be too fast for conditions. Speed limits are set for when roads are clear and dry not when they're snow or ice-covered."

Slowing down when driving conditions are poor is not just sound advice-it's also the law.

It is illegal to drive at speeds that exceed what is "reasonable and prudent" under existing road conditions. Drivers are required to adjust their speeds to take into account both the actual and potential hazards due to weather, highway conditions or other traffic.

A violation of this state law costs $198.60 with four demerit points added to the driver's record. A second offense within a 12-month period costs $249 with an additional four points.

"The slogan 'Snow Means Slow' is always true even for four-wheel drive and other heavy-duty vehicles," says Superintendent Collins. "It's too late to change your driving behavior after your vehicle is in the ditch or involved in a crash. If you drive too fast for conditions, you may end up with an expensive ticket in addition to towing and vehicle repair bills."

Return to top

December 2007

Drunken driving can ruin your holidays

If anyone doubts that drunken driving is a prevalent and lethal problem, consider the following statistics.

• Last year, there were more than 44,000 drunken driving convictions in Wisconsin.
  
• Alcohol related traffic crashes last year in Wisconsin killed 305 people and injured nearly 6,000.

Because drunken drivers destroy lives, State Patrol and other law enforcement officers never take a break-even during the holidays-from arresting those who choose to get behind the wheel while impaired.

"It doesn't matter how good a driving record you have or how close you are to home when you leave a party or a bar. We don't give warnings or second chances when we stop drunken drivers," says State Patrol Superintendent David Collins.

Like all other states, Wisconsin law sets the prohibited blood/breath alcohol concentration (BAC) at 0.08 percent for first and second operating while intoxicated (OWI) offenses.

Drivers with three or more prior OWI convictions may not legally operate a motor vehicle if their BAC is greater than 0.02 percent. In addition, drivers under age 21 are required to maintain "absolute sobriety" and may not legally operate a motor vehicle with any amount of alcohol in their system.

Drivers who've been drinking but have a BAC that is below the legal limit are not immune from an OWI violation. Superintendent Collins emphasizes that law enforcement officers have authority to arrest drivers for OWI-regardless of their BAC-if they are impaired after drinking.

"The best way to avoid the tragic consequences of drunken driving during the holidays is to plan ahead and make responsible decisions," Superintendent Collins advises. "If you've been drinking, give up your car keys and use a designated driver or find another way home. And don't let friends drive if they're impaired. The risk of arrest, not to mention injury and death, is too great to ignore."

Return to top

Back to current "Law of the Month"

Questions about the content of this page:
Steve L. Olson, steven.olson@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified:  November 26, 2008