Wis. Stat. » CHAPTER 346 — RULES OF THE ROAD
Wisconsin Statutes

Wis. Stat. § 346.14 (2026)

Distance between vehicles

✓ current as of July 2026
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346.14346.14 Distance between vehicles.
346.14(1b)(1b) In this section, “platoon” means a group of individual motor vehicles traveling in a unified manner at electronically coordinated speeds.
346.14(1m)(1m) The operator of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.
346.14(2)(2) 
346.14(2)(a)(a) Upon a highway outside a business or residence district, the operator of any motor truck with a gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds or of any motor vehicle which is drawing or towing another vehicle where the combined gross weight is more than 10,000 pounds shall do all of the following:
346.14(2)(a)1.1. Keep the vehicle he or she is operating at a distance of not less than 500 feet to the rear of any vehicle immediately preceding it, being driven in the same direction.
346.14(2)(a)2.2. Leave sufficient space so that an overtaking vehicle may enter and occupy such space without danger.
346.14(2)(b)(b) This subsection does not apply upon any lane especially designated for use by motor trucks or by truck tractor-semitrailer or tractor-trailer units nor does it apply when overtaking and passing another vehicle, but the fact that the operator of any vehicle or combination of vehicles mentioned in this subsection follows the preceding vehicle more closely than 500 feet for one mile or more or follows more closely than 500 feet when the preceding vehicle is moving at the maximum speed then and there permissible for such following vehicle is prima facie evidence that the operator of such following vehicle is violating this subsection.
346.14(2)(c)(c) This subsection does not apply to an operator of vehicle in a platoon other than the lead vehicle.
346.14 HistoryHistory: 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 105; 2017 a. 294.
346.14 AnnotationSub. (1) not only imposes a duty upon a tailgating driver to the driver of the preceding vehicle, but to all other cars and persons who are causally affected by the negligence of tailgating. Northland Insurance Co. v. Avis Rent-A-Car, 62 Wis. 2d 643, 215 N.W.2d 439 (1974).
346.14 AnnotationThis section does not impose an absolute liability upon drivers to avoid accidents. Millonig v. Bakken, 112 Wis. 2d 445, 334 N.W.2d 80 (1983).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1966–2022 · leading case: Wrinn v. State, 646 A.2d 869 (Conn. App. Ct. 1994).
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Wrinn v. State, 646 A.2d 869 (Conn. App. Ct. 1994). “Wis. Stat. § 346.14 provides in pertinent part: “The operator of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.”
State v. Antonio D. Brown, 2014 WI 69 (Wis. 2014). “51(1)(b) (requires officers to determine if a standing vehicle can be seen by operators of other vehicles from a distance of 500 feet); § 346.14 (requires officers to determine whether there are 500 feet between vehicles).”
Milwaukee & Suburban Transp. Corp. v. Royal Transit Co., 139 N.W.2d 595 (Wis. 1966). “It is perfectly clear that the legislature did not intend the provisions of sec. 346.14, Stats. 1959, to apply in all rear-end collisions.”
Northland Ins. v. Avis Rent-A-Car, 215 N.W.2d 439 (Wis. 1974). · cites it 2× “The trial court was also in error in its consideration of the application of sec. 346.14, Stats. 2 The court considered that Balistreri would be negligent if he had rear-ended the preceding truck, but even if he were negligent in following the preceding vehicle too closely, his…”
Totsky v. Riteway Bus Serv., Inc., 584 N.W.2d 188 (Wis. Ct. App. 1998). “2d 439, 442 (1974) (court finding that § 346.14(1), STATS., governing distance between vehicles is a safety statute); Milwaukee & Suburban Transp.”
Rock Cnty. v. Marshall, 927 N.W.2d 935 (Wis. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 9× “14(1) was renumbered to Wis. Stat. § 346.14 (1m) by 2017 Wis. Act 294, with no apparent change of substance made to the pertinent subsection.”
Burress, Jared v. Mr. G & G Trucking, LLC (W.D. Wis. 2021). · cites it 6× “First, there is no Wis. Stat. § 346.14 (a). The court infers that plaintiffs meant to cite Wis.”
Cnty. of Buffalo v. Kevin J. Rich (Wis. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 3× “§ 346.14(1m) prohibits following another vehicle more closely than is “reasonable and prudent,” and the circuit court clearly found that Rich drove too closely to the preceding vehicle.”
Sylvester v. Meditz, 278 F. Supp. 810 (E.D. Wis. 1968). · cites it 6× “§ 346.14 (2). There is credible evidence in the record to require this court to sustain such a finding.”
State v. THAO, 694 N.W.2d 509 (Wis. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “The Court is satisfied that the State has met its burden of proof as to a violation of 346.”
— Wis. Stat. § 346.14(1) — 2 cases
Totsky v. Riteway Bus Serv., Inc., 584 N.W.2d 188 (Wis. Ct. App. 1998). “2d 439, 442 (1974) (court finding that § 346.14(1), STATS., governing distance between vehicles is a safety statute); Milwaukee & Suburban Transp.”
Rock Cnty. v. Marshall, 927 N.W.2d 935 (Wis. Ct. App. 2019). “14(1) was renumbered to Wis. Stat. § 346.14 (1m) by 2017 Wis. Act 294, with no apparent change of substance made to the pertinent subsection.”
— Wis. Stat. § 346.14(1m) — 2 cases
Rock Cnty. v. Marshall, 927 N.W.2d 935 (Wis. Ct. App. 2019). “14(1) was renumbered to Wis. Stat. § 346.14 (1m) by 2017 Wis. Act 294, with no apparent change of substance made to the pertinent subsection.”
Cnty. of Buffalo v. Kevin J. Rich (Wis. Ct. App. 2022). “§ 346.14(1m) prohibits following another vehicle more closely than is “reasonable and prudent,” and the circuit court clearly found that Rich drove too closely to the preceding vehicle.”
— Wis. Stat. § 346.14(2) — 1 case
Sylvester v. Meditz, 278 F. Supp. 810 (E.D. Wis. 1968). “§ 346.14 (2). There is credible evidence in the record to require this court to sustain such a finding.”
— Wis. Stat. § 346.14(a) — 1 case
Burress, Jared v. Mr. G & G Trucking, LLC (W.D. Wis. 2021). “First, there is no Wis. Stat. § 346.14 (a). The court infers that plaintiffs meant to cite Wis.”
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