What All Drivers Need to Know About Wisconsin’s Move Over Law

Pulling your vehicle onto the shoulder is one of the most dangerous things you can do on a busy Wisconsin road. 

Whether you pulled over due to a flat tire, an overheated engine, or a minor fender bender, you may end up standing only a few feet from cars moving at highway speed. Police officers, tow operators, and road crews who work beside traffic face that same danger every single day.

The risk of a secondary car accident is the reason Wisconsin has a Move Over Law, which has recently expanded. It now covers everyday drivers stranded on the roadside, not just emergency responders and utility workers.

In this blog, we’ll explain what the updated Wisconsin Move Over Law asks of you, why lawmakers broadened it, and what can happen if you ignore it.

What Does Wisconsin’s Move Over Law Require Now?

You must move over or slow down when you approach a stopped vehicle showing warning lights on the side of the road. The Move Over Law has always asked drivers to give stopped emergency vehicles room. The 2025 update keeps that rule and folds disabled vehicles into it. 

That means you need to be vigilant for two categories of stopped vehicles:

• Emergency and Service Vehicles: Squad cars, ambulances, fire trucks, tow trucks, utility vehicles, and highway maintenance vehicles with their warning lights flashing.
• Disabled Vehicles: Any stalled or stopped vehicle with its hazard lights on, flares or warning devices set out nearby, or a person standing with it and visible to passing traffic.

This new Wisconsin disabled vehicle law treats a stranded motorist the same way it has long treated a responder. If you see a car on the shoulder with its hazards blinking, or someone outside it waving or working on a tire, the law now expects you to respond.

How Do You Create a Safety Zone?

If you are ever the one stranded, you can make it easier for other drivers to help you. Turn on your hazard lights right away, pull as far onto the shoulder as you safely can, and check traffic before you step out of the car. 

You have two ways to provide a safety zone, depending on the road:

• If the road has more than one lane in your direction and you can change lanes safely, move out of the lane closest to the stopped vehicle.
• If you are on a single lane or cannot change lanes safely, reduce your speed as you pass. 

Both options give the person on the shoulder a buffer of space and time. That buffer is often the difference between a near miss and a tragedy.

When a driver skips the move-over step and still causes a wreck, the person on the shoulder pays the price. If that happens to you, a Green Bay car accident lawyer can review the crash and explain your options.

Why Was the Move Over Law Expanded?

For years, the law shielded only workers in marked vehicles. But a parent changing a tire on the interstate is in just as much danger as the tow operator who hooks up that same car. A Good Samaritan who stops to help, or a driver waiting for roadside assistance, faces that same wall of passing traffic. The expansion closes that gap.

The change came courtesy of Wisconsin Act 54 of 2025, which Governor Tony Evers signed in December 2025. The bill drew support from both parties and brought Wisconsin in line with most other states that already protect stranded drivers.

The danger that this Wisconsin roadside safety law aims to address is not hypothetical. Over the past five years, state records show 145 people were injured near a stopped vehicle, and five were killed. 

Another 73 emergency responders were struck by passing cars while working on the side of the road. Those unfortunate statistics are why lawmakers acted, and they are why the penalties for ignoring the rule are steep.

What Happens If You Don’t Move Over?

Failing to move over is not a harmless slip. It is a moving violation, and the penalties add up fast.

Tickets, Points, and a Possible Suspension

A ticket for breaking this rule can result in a fine of up to $300 and demerit points on your driving record. Collect enough points within a year, and the state can suspend your license. These are the kinds of Wisconsin traffic laws that exist to keep people alive, not just to hand out tickets.

When a Violation Causes a Crash

The consequences grow much steeper when your choice causes harm. A driver whose violation leads to a crash can lose driving privileges in addition to the fine under Wisconsin Statute 346.072. And if another person is hurt or killed because you did not slow down or move over, you could also face a personal injury or wrongful death claim.

When you see flashing lights or hazards ahead, treat them as a signal to ease off the gas and give space. A few seconds of caution protects the person on the shoulder, and it protects you from a citation, a lawsuit, and the weight of having caused a serious crash.

Our Green Bay Lawyers Are Here to Help.

A crash you did not cause can leave you with medical bills, missed paychecks, and a pile of questions. You should not have to face all of that alone.

At Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers, our experienced car accident attorneys can fight for the compensation you deserve after a crash caused by another driver’s carelessness. We deal with the insurance company while you focus on healing. Contact us today for a free consultation. Bank on Brian!