- The Wisconsin DMV keeps drivers safe.yellow car, a honda japanese sport car model image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
The state of Wisconsin and its Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has a number of laws designed to keep its roads safe for drivers and their passengers. While there are many rules dedicated to driving and the operation of motor vehicles, there are some important laws that all drivers in Wisconsin should know. - Generally, the speed limit is 65 mph on Wisconsin interstates.Speed image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com
In Wisconsin, the speed limit is 65 mph for most interstates, both rural and urban. Still, it is important to take note of speed limit signs, which indicate increases and decreases in certain areas where 65 mph is deemed inappropriate.
Speeding in work zones is especially dangerous and also threatens the safety of those at work. A person caught speeding in a work zone when workers are present faces the possibility of a double fine. - Children belong in the proper child safety seats.child in the car image by Natalia Pavlova from Fotolia.com
All drivers and passengers over the age of eight are required by law to wear seat belts. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, those riding in the front and back of the vehicle must wear three-point seat belts (as opposed to just lap belts). Failure to wear a seatbelt may result in a $10 fine.
Children who are less than a year old (or weigh less than 20 lbs) must ride in a rear-facing child seat in the vehicle's back seat. Children between ages 1 to 4 (or less than 40 lbs) need a forward-facing child seat in the back seat. Children who 4 to 8, weigh between 40-80 lbs, and are shorter than 4'9'' are required to sit in a booster seat. Drivers with children who are not in the proper safety seats will be fined between $30-75 for a child under the age of 4, and $1-25 for a child older than 4. - At 19 years of age, a Wisconsin driver is eligible to get their regular license.driver image by Ivanna Buldakova from Fotolia.com
Learning to drive in Wisconsin features a few different steps of increasing independence and responsibility.
Student drivers are eligible for an instruction permit at the age of 15 years, 6 months. These drivers must be accompanied by a qualified instructor, legal guardian or spouse over the age of 19, or a licensed person over the age of 21. Immediate family members may ride in the back, if the driver is accompanied by a guardian. At the age of 16, licensed drivers over the age of 25 with at least 2 years of driving experience may ride in the back seat as well. Also, in hours of darkness, a licensed driver over the age of 25 with at least 2 years of driving experience must sit in the front passenger seat.
At the age of 16, student drivers may get their probationary license. Students must gain 30 hours of driving experience, including 10 hours of driving at night, before obtaining a probationary license. While a driver gains more independence with a probationary license, the probationary license has several restrictions that make it different from a regular license. For instance, drivers are not permitted to drive between midnight and 5 am and may only have one passenger in the vehicle (excluding immediate family members). Also, drivers with a probationary license are given double points after their first point conviction. Twelve points results in a six month suspension.
Finally, a driver can get a regular license at 19 years. The driver must have a probationary driver license until the first renewal, which is usually about 2 or 3 years. Regular license holders must also wear their seat belts and maintain absolute sobriety. - Be responsible: find a designated driver if you have been drinking.to drunk to drive image by Marjan Veljanoski from Fotolia.com
In Wisconsin, the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit is .08. Refusing to take a BAC test may result in a suspended license for a year and the impounding of the vehicle. As the Wisconsin Department of Transportation explains, the state recently intensified its laws: it is now mandatory to install ignition interlock devices on vehicles driven by individuals convicted of operating while intoxicated with a BAC of .15 or higher, even on the first offense. The state also features open container laws, which make it illegal to possess an open container of alcohol in the body of the vehicle. - Running a red light is illegal in Wisconsin.red light image by Adkok from Fotolia.com
The Department of Transportation points out a number of driving behaviors that are dangerous for everyone on the road. Driving aggressively, tailgating, and weaving through heavy traffic can lead to serious accidents and are often illegal. Being distracted or inattentive while driving is also extremely dangerous. It is illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving in Wisconsin. Driving when drowsy is dangerous for the driver and everyone else on the road. If a driver feels tired, it is best to stop and rest. Running red lights is yet another illegal dangerous behavior that can result in serious accidents.
