The Light That Is Changing
Wis. Stat. 346.37 — on yellow, stop before the intersection unless too close to stop safely
Yellow means stop, unless too close. Except as the section provides, traffic facing a yellow signal shown with or following the green stops before entering the intersection unless so close to it that a stop may not be made in safety.
Red, then a turn. Traffic facing a red signal stops before the near crosswalk, or before the intersection, or where a sign or marking indicates, and remains standing until a signal permits movement. After stopping, it may cautiously enter to turn right into the nearest lawfully available lane, or to turn left from a one way highway into the nearest available lane of a one way highway moving left.
Two right turn lanes. Traffic in the leftmost of two right turn lanes may turn right on red into the lane second from the right. Otherwise no turn on red may cross lanes of moving traffic, and none may be made where a sign prohibits it. A vehicle turning on red yields to pedestrians and riders in a crosswalk, to vehicles making a lawful U-turn, and to other traffic.
| The light | What the section says |
|---|---|
| The lightYellow | What the section saysStop before the intersection, unless too close to stop safely |
| The lightRed | What the section saysStop and remain standing until a signal permits movement |
| The lightRight turn on red | What the section saysInto the nearest available lane, after stopping, unless a sign prohibits it |
| The lightLeft turn on red | What the section saysOne way highway onto one way highway, after stopping |
Arrows, flashing lights and pedestrian signals are set out in the same sections, and not all of them are on this page. What a particular ticket means is a question for a licensed Wisconsin attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Wis. Stat. 346.37 — Traffic-control signal legend
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.