Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 346.34 (2026)
Turning movements and required signals on turning and stopping
✓ current as of July 2026
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346.34(1)(a)1.1. Turn a vehicle at an intersection unless the vehicle is in proper position upon the roadway as required in s. 346.31.
346.34(1)(a)2.2. Turn a vehicle to enter a private road or driveway unless the vehicle is in proper position on the roadway as required in s. 346.32.
346.34(1)(a)3.3. Turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.
346.34(1)(b)(b) In the event any other traffic may be affected by the movement, no person may turn any vehicle without giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in s. 346.35. A person making a U-turn shall use the same signal used to indicate a left turn. When given by the operator of a vehicle other than a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device, the signal shall be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning. The operator of a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device shall give the signal continuously during not less than the last 50 feet traveled before turning. A signal by the hand and arm need not be given continuously if the hand is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device.
346.34(2)(2) Stopping. No person may stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in s. 346.35 to the operator of any vehicle immediately to the rear when there is opportunity to give such signal. This subsection does not apply to the operator of a bicycle approaching an official stop sign or traffic control signal.
346.34 AnnotationWhen it is impossible to signal for the last 100 feet before turning, the 100 feet requirement does not apply. Betchkal v. Willis, 127 Wis. 2d 177, 378 N.W.2d 684 (1985).
346.34 AnnotationSub. (1) (b) states that a driver must use a turn signal in “the event that any other traffic may be affected.” The defendant did not violate this statute when the defendant made a left turn without using the defendant’s signal when there was no oncoming or following traffic or pedestrians present when the defendant turned. State v. Anagnos, 2011 WI App 118, 337 Wis. 2d 57, 805 N.W.2d 722, 10-1812.
346.34 AnnotationReversed on other grounds. 2012 WI 64, 341 Wis. 2d 576, 815 N.W.2d 675, 10-1812.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1962–2021 · leading case: Betchkal v. Willis, 378 N.W.2d 684 (Wis. 1985).
Betchkal v. Willis, 378 N.W.2d 684 (Wis. 1985). “2d 463 (1961), this court said that "making a turn in violation of sec. 346.34(1), Stats., ... is negligence as a matter of law because the section *184 is a safety statute.”
State v. Anagnos, 2012 WI 64 (Wis. 2012). “Wis. Stat. § 346.34 (1)(b). *585 ¶ 17. The circuit court pointed to the "mistakes [made] by the officer," specifically Deputy Frami's belief that the two left turns were illegal, when it concluded that the stop was not supported by reasonable suspicion.”
Dakter v. Cavallino, 2014 WI App 112 (Wis. Ct. App. 2014). “Moreover, as the Dakters explain, the passing-on-the-right instruction wás informed in part by Wis JI — Civil 1354, which is based on Wis. Stat. § 346.34 (l)(a)3. Section 346.”
Totsky v. Riteway Bus Serv., Inc., 2000 WI 29 (Wis. 2000). “[3] The LaVallie court also applied the emergency doctrine to excuse the violation of Wis. Stat. § 346.34 (1) (1961), which read in relevant part: No person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection unless the vehicle is in proper position upon the roadway.”
State v. Anagnos, 2011 WI App 118 (Wis. Ct. App. 2011). “After the evidentiary hearing, the circuit court found that, as there was no oncoming or following traffic or any pedestrians present when Anagnos turned left without using his signal, he did not violate Wis. Stat. § 346.34 (1)(b), which states that a driver must use a turn…”
Betchkal v. Willis, 363 N.W.2d 248 (Wis. Ct. App. 1984). “Section 346.34, Stats., is a restatement of sec.”
Buel v. La Crosse Transit Co., 253 N.W.2d 232 (Wis. 1977). “The complaint alleges that he was negligent in the following respects; in failing to maintain a proper look *486 out; in failing to properly manage and control the bus; and in making a right turn when it could not be made with reasonable safety, in violation of sec. 346.34,…”
City of Milwaukee v. Johnston, 124 N.W.2d 690 (Wis. 1963). “1 A conflict in the testimony exists whether the one-way street was properly marked and the failure to give a right-hand turn signal is not a traffic violation unless “other traffic may be affected by such movement.”
Totsky v. Riteway Bus Serv., Inc., 584 N.W.2d 188 (Wis. Ct. App. 1998). “2d at 687 (court finding that § 346.34(1), STATS., governing use of turn signal, is a safety statute); Northland Ins.”
State v. John William Lane (Wis. Ct. App. 2021). “§ 346.34(1)(a)3., which provides that no person may “[t]urn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.”
Zeitlow v. W. Cas. & Sur. Co., 115 N.W.2d 758 (Wis. 1962). “Schneider’s violation of sec. 346.34(1), Stats., was the major cause of the ensuing collision.”
Hillstead v. Smith, 171 N.W.2d 315 (Wis. 1969). “” *568 Subsequently, in referring to the obligation of the turning vehicle driven by Luella Hillstead, the judge referred to sec. 346.34, Stats., which provides that, “No person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection .”
— Wis. Stat. § 346.34(1) — 3 cases
Betchkal v. Willis, 378 N.W.2d 684 (Wis. 1985). “2d 463 (1961), this court said that "making a turn in violation of sec. 346.34(1), Stats., ... is negligence as a matter of law because the section *184 is a safety statute.”
Totsky v. Riteway Bus Serv., Inc., 584 N.W.2d 188 (Wis. Ct. App. 1998). “2d at 687 (court finding that § 346.34(1), STATS., governing use of turn signal, is a safety statute); Northland Ins.”
Zeitlow v. W. Cas. & Sur. Co., 115 N.W.2d 758 (Wis. 1962). “Schneider’s violation of sec. 346.34(1), Stats., was the major cause of the ensuing collision.”
— Wis. Stat. § 346.34(1)(a) — 1 case
State v. John William Lane (Wis. Ct. App. 2021). “§ 346.34(1)(a)3., which provides that no person may “[t]urn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.”
— Wis. Stat. § 346.34(1)(b) — 2 cases
Betchkal v. Willis, 378 N.W.2d 684 (Wis. 1985). “2d 463 (1961), this court said that "making a turn in violation of sec. 346.34(1), Stats., ... is negligence as a matter of law because the section *184 is a safety statute.”
State v. End, 927 N.W.2d 933 (Wis. Ct. App. 2019).
— Wis. Stat. § 346.34(l)(a) — 1 case
Dakter v. Cavallino, 2014 WI App 112 (Wis. Ct. App. 2014). “Moreover, as the Dakters explain, the passing-on-the-right instruction wás informed in part by Wis JI — Civil 1354, which is based on Wis. Stat. § 346.34 (l)(a)3. Section 346.”
— Wis. Stat. § 346.34(l)(b) — 2 cases
Betchkal v. Willis, 378 N.W.2d 684 (Wis. 1985). “2d 463 (1961), this court said that "making a turn in violation of sec. 346.34(1), Stats., ... is negligence as a matter of law because the section *184 is a safety statute.”
State v. Anagnos, 2011 WI App 118 (Wis. Ct. App. 2011). “After the evidentiary hearing, the circuit court found that, as there was no oncoming or following traffic or any pedestrians present when Anagnos turned left without using his signal, he did not violate Wis. Stat. § 346.34 (1)(b), which states that a driver must use a turn…”
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