Wisconsin law, including in Green Bay, permits right turns on red after a full stop unless signs prohibit it, with no major 2026 statewide changes reported. Drivers must yield to all cross-traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists, aligning with national standards refined for safety.
Core Rule Explained
Under Wisconsin Statutes § 346.41(1)(a), vehicles facing a red light must stop completely at the limit line, crosswalk, or intersection entry. After stopping, a cautious right turn is allowed into the nearest right lane if safe—no sign bans it, and no lanes of traffic are crossed (except specific dual right-turn lanes). Left turns on red are okay only from one-way to one-way streets, yielding fully.
Green Bay enforces this via state code, with local signs at high-pedestrian spots like downtown or Lambeau Field. The rule promotes flow while prioritizing safety; violations draw $160+ fines plus points.
2026 Updates and Context
No legislative overhaul hit in 2026—rules mirror 2024-2025 statutes, per WisDOT. National pushes for right-on-red bans (e.g., NYC trials) haven’t swayed Wisconsin, though Green Bay monitors pedestrian data amid Vision Zero goals. Electric scooters and delivery devices gained explicit yield mentions, reflecting tech evolution.
Brown County (Green Bay’s) crash stats show right-on-red yielding failures in 10-15% of intersection incidents, prompting signage but no bans.
When and Where Prohibited
- No Turn Signs: Common near schools, hospitals, or construction—obey strictly.
- Crossing Lanes: Can’t cut across moving traffic; inner right lanes limited.
- Pedestrian Zones: Yield to anyone in crosswalks; Green Bay’s Ashland Ave or Webster St often flagged.
Flashing red equals stop sign protocol; steady red demands full halt before creeping.
Safety Best Practices
Full stop first—engine off if needed for control. Scan left, right, then left again; wait 3 seconds post-clearance. Signal early; avoid revving. In Green Bay’s winter slush, brake sooner…