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.
SB345 would change Wisconsin traffic law to require drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians, and in many cases for personal delivery devices, bicyclists, and riders of electric scooters or electric personal assistive mobility devices, until they have fully completed crossing the roadway. The bill applies this rule at signal-controlled intersections and crosswalks, at unsignalized intersections and crosswalks, and in several situations involving turns on green, red, green arrow, and flashing yellow arrow signals. It also revises related right-of-way language so that the duty is framed as a stop-and-wait requirement rather than a general duty to yield.
The bill amends multiple sections of the traffic code, including ss. 346.23, 346.24, and 346.37, to tighten the obligations of vehicle operators at crosswalks and intersections. It preserves existing rules that pedestrians and other crosswalk users may not suddenly enter the path of a vehicle that is too close to stop, but otherwise makes the motorist’s duty more explicit and more protective of people crossing the roadway. The initial applicability section indicates the changes would apply to offenses committed on the effective date.
The general sentiment reflected in the available context appears supportive of pedestrian safety, as shown by the bill’s sponsorship from a large bipartisan group of senators and representatives. The bill title and drafting suggest a safety-focused measure intended to reduce conflicts between vehicles and people crossing streets. However, the bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1, so it did not become law.
There is no committee transcript or recorded vote history in the provided materials, so specific arguments for or against the bill are not available. The main policy issue evident from the text is whether Wisconsin should move from a “yield” standard to a stricter “stop and remain stopped” standard at crosswalks and intersections. Any contention would likely center on enforcement, driver expectations, and the practical effect on traffic flow versus pedestrian protection.
If enacted, SB345 would have amended Wisconsin’s traffic statutes to impose a stricter stop requirement on motorists at crosswalks and intersections, replacing or clarifying existing yield-based language in ss. 346.23, 346.24, and 346.37. It would have affected drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, riders of electric scooters and electric personal assistive mobility devices, and personal delivery device operators by requiring vehicles to remain stopped until crossing is complete in specified situations.
The available context suggests the bill was generally framed as a pedestrian-safety measure and had broad legislative sponsorship, indicating favorable sentiment among its authors and cosponsors. At the same time, the bill did not advance to enactment and was ultimately defeated under Senate Joint Resolution 1, showing that it did not secure enough support to pass.
The central point of contention is the shift from a duty to “yield” to a duty to “stop and remain stopped” until a crossing is fully completed. Supporters would likely view this as a clearer and safer rule for pedestrians and other roadway users, while opponents may have been concerned about increased driver burden, traffic delays, enforcement complexity, and whether the change was necessary given existing right-of-way rules. No transcript or vote record is provided to identify specific legislators or stakeholder groups taking those positions.