An Act to amend 346.23 (1), 346.23 (2), 346.24 (1), 346.24 (2), 346.37 (1) (a) 1., 346.37 (1) (c) 3., 346.37 (1) (c) 4., 346.37 (1) (d) 1. and 346.37 (1) (e) 1. of the statutes; Relating to: requiring vehicles to stop for pedestrians at certain intersections and crosswalks.
AB332 would change Wisconsin traffic law to require drivers to stop, rather than merely yield, when pedestrians and certain other roadway users are crossing at covered intersections and crosswalks. The bill applies to crossings controlled by traffic signals, traffic officers, and to marked or unmarked crosswalks at uncontrolled intersections, and it also covers personal delivery devices, bicyclists, and riders of electric scooters and electric personal assistive mobility devices. In the affected situations, a vehicle operator would have to remain stopped until the crossing person or device has fully completed crossing the roadway.
The bill also revises several traffic-signal provisions to make them consistent with this stronger stop requirement. It updates rules for green signals, red-light turns, red-light bicycle/motorcycle exceptions, green arrows, and flashing yellow arrows so that these provisions are all subject to the new duty to stop and remain stopped for covered crosswalk users. The bill includes an initial applicability clause making the changes apply only to offenses committed on the effective date and preserving the use of prior convictions for sentencing and administrative actions.
AB332 would amend multiple sections of Wisconsin Statutes chapter 346, primarily ss. 346.23, 346.24, and 346.37, by replacing or tightening the existing "yield the right-of-way" standard with an affirmative stop-and-remain-stopped requirement in specified pedestrian-crossing situations. The practical effect would be to increase driver duties at intersections and crosswalks and to strengthen legal protections for pedestrians and other vulnerable roadway users. It would also affect enforcement, traffic citations, and related Department of Transportation and court actions by creating a more explicit stopping obligation.
The available context suggests the bill was introduced with support from a sizable group of Assembly and Senate Democrats, indicating a generally favorable posture among its sponsors toward stronger pedestrian safety protections. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided material, so there is no direct evidence of debate, amendment activity, or bipartisan support. The bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1, which indicates it did not advance to enactment despite introduction.
The main policy issue is whether Wisconsin should require drivers to stop completely and remain stopped for pedestrians and other crosswalk users, rather than continuing the current "yield" framework that allows movement so long as the driver avoids endangering or interfering with crossing traffic. Supporters would likely view the bill as a pedestrian-safety measure that clarifies driver obligations and reduces ambiguity at crossings. Potential opponents could argue that the change is more restrictive for motorists, may create traffic delays, and could complicate enforcement at intersections where multiple users are present. No specific objections are documented in the provided record, but the bill's failure to advance suggests it did not secure enough legislative support.