Gov. Evers Signs Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Reckless Driving, Improve Road Safety by Expanding Access to Driver Education

“Ensuring young drivers have access to the resources and education they need to gain experience and learn to drive safely is critically important for the safety of our roads and the well-being of communities across our state,” said Gov. Evers. “As we continue working to address reckless driving statewide, I’m grateful improving driving and road safety is an issue garnering bipartisan attention through support for driver education programs that do good work each and every day to make sure we have safe, responsible drivers on our roads.”

The governor’s announcement today builds upon Gov. Evers’ and the Evers Administration’s ongoing efforts to prevent reckless driving and improve road safety. Gov. Evers has directed over $100 million toward violence prevention and community safety initiatives, including $3.5 million for the city of Milwaukee last year alone specifically to prevent reckless driving. Gov. Evers has similarly taken additional steps aimed at curbing reckless driving and promoting safer driving in Wisconsin, including signing Senate Bill 92, which was the first bill enacted in the governor’s second term. Now 2023 Wisconsin Act 1, Senate Bill 92 allowed counties and municipalities to enact ordinances authorizing law enforcement to impound a vehicle if its owner is cited for reckless driving, has a prior conviction for reckless driving, and has not paid the imposed forfeiture for that offense. Additionally, Gov. Evers also signed two additional bills during this legislative session to help address reckless driving and carjacking in the state by increasing penalties for both and creating a new “carjacking” section of the criminal code.

Finally, Gov. Evers also proposed several investments as part of his 2023-25 biennial budget proposal to reduce reckless driving and keep communities safe, including:

Building Safer Communities

To increase safety for motorists, pedestrians, and other non-motorist users, Gov. Evers proposed investments to allow communities to improve the physical design of their roads in innovative ways, including:

• Providing $60 million over the biennium for traffic calming grants to construct traffic circles, pedestrian islands, bump-outs at crosswalks, and other treatments that slow vehicle traffic, making conditions safer for bikers and pedestrians; and  
• Restoring roadway design considerations in state law that support non-motorist infrastructure known as complete streets, empowering local communities to safely integrate all modes of transportation.