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Wisconsin driver handbook guide

Wisconsin driver handbook guide.

Use this guide to navigate the 15 chapters in the handbook edition behind Roadwise’s Wisconsin course. Read the source, look up a rule in the study app, or work through 45 companion lessons.

Read the handbook in Roadwise Open source PDF
Handbook chapters
15
Source PDF pages
64
Companion lessons
45
Licensing agency
DMV

A way through the handbook

Start with the application and licensing material that applies to your age and license type. Then work through the driving rules, signs, and safe-driving chapters. A rule is easier to remember when you can explain what it asks you to do in a real road situation.

For a quick refresher, use the chapter list below. For a deeper study session, follow a companion lesson and its checkpoint questions. The page numbers refer to this course’s source edition and may differ from the newest agency edition.

Chapter list

  1. Introduction Source p. 1
  2. Section 1: Driving Test Requirements Source p. 5
  3. Section 2: Progression of Licenses Source p. 7
  4. Section 3: The Basics Source p. 13
  5. Section 4: Signs Source p. 26
  6. Section 5: Signals, Pavement Markings and Lane Controls Source p. 36
  7. Section 6: Driving Situations Source p. 43
  8. Section 7: Driving Conditions Source p. 48
  9. Section 8: Handling Emergencies Source p. 50
  10. Section 9: Dangerous Driving Behaviors Source p. 53
  11. Section 10: Sharing the Road Source p. 55
  12. Section 11: Your Driving Privilege Source p. 57
  13. Section 12: Other Important Information Source p. 58
  14. Section 13: Website Page Links Source p. 60
  15. Section 14: Practice Quiz Source p. 62

What you will find in each chapter

Chapter 1 · source p. 1

Introduction

This chapter’s sections include:

  • wisconsindot.gov
  • At Home
  • Human Trafficking in Wisconsin good news is that you can do something about it!
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 2 · source p. 5

Section 1: Driving Test Requirements

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Vision Screening
  • B. Highway Signs Test
  • C. Knowledge Test
  • D. Skills Test
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 3 · source p. 7

Section 2: Progression of Licenses

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Sponsorship
  • Who may sign as a sponsor?
  • Happens Here.
  • Here.
  • B. Instruction Permit
  • C. Probationary License
  • D. Regular Driver License
  • E. Out of State Transfers to Wisconsin?
  • F. Real Id
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 4 · source p. 13

Section 3: The Basics

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Right-Of-Way
  • B. Understanding Vehicle Speed
  • C. Intersections
  • D. Stopping
  • E. Sight Distance Rule
  • F. Space Between Vehicles
  • G. Turning
  • H. Passing
  • I. Backing
  • J. Parking
  • K. Communication
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 5 · source p. 26

Section 4: Signs

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Warning
  • B. Regulatory
  • Enter
  • Only
  • Zone
  • C. Construction
  • D. Destination
  • Madison
  • East
  • Madison Yards Way
  • State Park
  • E. Service
  • F. Mile Marker
  • Mile
  • G. Route Number
  • County
  • H. Railroad Crossing
  • Tracks
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 6 · source p. 36

Section 5: Signals, Pavement Markings and Lane Controls

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Traffic Signals
  • Red Lights
  • Yellow Lights
  • Green Lights
  • B. Types of Line Markings
  • Edge and Lane Lines
  • White Lane Lines
  • Pedestrian Crossing Lines
  • Yellow Lane Lines
  • C. Special Lanes
  • Shared Center Lane
  • Reversible Lane
  • Reserved Lanes
  • Only
  • Bus
  • Flex Lane
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 7 · source p. 43

Section 6: Driving Situations

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Roundabouts
  • Driving a one-lane roundabout
  • Bicycles
  • Lane choice is critical at roundabouts
  • B. Metered Ramps
  • C. Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI)
  • D. Traffic Stops
  • E. Watch for Deer
  • F. Funeral Processions
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 8 · source p. 48

Section 7: Driving Conditions

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Reduced Visibility
  • B. Severe Weather
  • C. Winter
  • D. Farm Safety/Rural Driving
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 9 · source p. 50

Section 8: Handling Emergencies

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Avoiding Crashes
  • B. Crashes
  • C. Roadside Emergencies
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 10 · source p. 53

Section 9: Dangerous Driving Behaviors

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Alcohol, Drugs and Driving
  • B. Distracted Driving
  • C. Drowsy Driving
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 11 · source p. 55

Section 10: Sharing the Road

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Pedestrians
  • B. Emergency Vehicles
  • C. School Buses
  • D. Motorcycles
  • E. Bicycles
  • Know your bicycle hand signals!
  • F. No-Zones
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 12 · source p. 57

Section 11: Your Driving Privilege

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Point System
  • B. Habitual Traffic Offender
  • C. Occupational License
  • D. Reinstating a Revoked or Suspended License
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 13 · source p. 58

Section 12: Other Important Information

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Accessibility
  • B. Medical Conditions to Report
  • C. ID Card for Voting – Petition Process
  • D. Seat Belts (Safety Belts)
  • E. Insurance Requirements
  • F. Save Fuel and Your Vehicle
  • G. Driver Education Grant Program
  • H. Organ Donation Program
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 14 · source p. 60

Section 13: Website Page Links

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Website pages
Open this handbook chapter

Chapter 15 · source p. 62

Section 14: Practice Quiz

This chapter’s sections include:

  • A. Questions
  • B. Answers
  • Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Open this handbook chapter

Turn the reading into a study routine

The Wisconsin course groups the source material into 12 units. Each lesson includes handbook page references, examples, and a checkpoint in the study app.

Unit 1 · 2 lessons

License Tests

Vision, signs, knowledge and skills tests

  1. Vision & Highway Signs Test
  2. Knowledge & Skills Test

Unit 2 · 5 lessons

Progression of Licenses

Sponsors, permit, GDL, renewal, REAL ID

  1. Applying & Sponsorship
  2. Instruction Permit
  3. Probationary License: Earning It
  4. GDL Restrictions
  5. Regular License, Transfers & REAL ID

Unit 3 · 8 lessons

The Basics

Right-of-way, speed, space, turns, parking, signals

  1. Right-of-Way
  2. Speed & the Four-Second Rule
  3. Intersections, Stopping & Sight Distance
  4. Space Between Vehicles
  5. Turning, U-Turns & Y-Turns
  6. Passing & Changing Lanes
  7. Backing & Parking
  8. Communication: Horn, Lights & Signals

Unit 4 · 7 lessons

Signs

Warning, regulatory, guide and railroad signs

  1. Warning Signs I
  2. Warning Signs II
  3. Regulatory Signs I
  4. Regulatory Signs II
  5. Construction & Destination Signs
  6. Service, Mile Marker & Route Signs
  7. Railroad Crossings

Unit 5 · 4 lessons

Signals, Markings & Lanes

Lights, lines and special lanes

  1. Traffic Signals
  2. Pavement Markings
  3. Shared Center & Reversible Lanes
  4. Reserved & Flex Lanes

Unit 6 · 4 lessons

Driving Situations

Roundabouts, ramps, DDIs, traffic stops, deer

  1. Roundabouts: Entering & Exiting
  2. Roundabouts: Lanes, Pedestrians & Bicycles
  3. Metered Ramps & DDIs
  4. Traffic Stops, Deer & Funerals

Unit 7 · 2 lessons

Driving Conditions

Visibility, ice, skids, winter and farm roads

  1. Reduced Visibility & Severe Weather
  2. Winter & Farm Safety

Unit 8 · 3 lessons

Handling Emergencies

Avoiding crashes, crash steps, breakdowns

  1. Avoiding Crashes
  2. After a Crash
  3. Roadside Emergencies

Unit 9 · 2 lessons

Dangerous Driving Behaviors

Alcohol, drugs, distraction, fatigue

  1. Alcohol, Drugs & Implied Consent
  2. Distracted & Drowsy Driving

Unit 10 · 3 lessons

Sharing the Road

Pedestrians, emergency vehicles, buses, bikes, trucks

  1. Pedestrians & Emergency Vehicles
  2. School Buses & Motorcycles
  3. Bicycles & Truck No-Zones

Unit 11 · 2 lessons

Your Driving Privilege

Points, habitual offenders, occupational license

  1. Point System & Habitual Offenders
  2. Occupational License & Reinstatement

Unit 12 · 3 lessons

Other Important Information

Seat belts, insurance, accessibility, fuel

  1. Seat Belts & Child Safety Seats
  2. Insurance, Fuel & Vehicle Care
  3. Accessibility, Medical Reporting & Voting ID