Wisconsin’s transportation system is an essential part of all our lives, but we are seeing too many needless tragedies on our roads. Safety is our top priority at WisDOT. Our goal is to get to zero crash deaths in Wisconsin. We all have a shared responsibility to achieve that goal. Our focus is on initiatives that improve safety as we build and maintain our network of roads and bridges and educate the public on the importance of safe driving. We work with our transportation partners on important initiatives but rely on everyone in Wisconsin to do their part to improve safety.

Parents play a critical role in keeping our roads and families safe. The first step is to model the behavior we want our children to follow. It begins with buckling up every time you get in any vehicle. It continues by having nothing to distract you or your young driver from the important task at hand. Our safety awareness campaigns drive home the point that an action by anyone behind the wheel impacts everyone on the road.

We hope this guide helps you build a foundation of understanding of Wisconsin’s rules for the road and safe driving techniques. Thank you for what you do to instill and display safe driving skills so we can all be safer together.

Kristina Boardman
Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary

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The statistics pertaining to teen driver safety are disturbing, with teen drivers having a disproportionately high crash rate compared to more experienced drivers. The consequences from these crashes are devastating, negatively impacting the young drivers themselves as well as their families, friends and community.

Therefore, our Wisconsin DMV team makes driver safety a top priority. We are working hard to provide parents and guardians with valuable resources to develop safe driving habits in their young drivers. This requires a collaborative approach involving the teen driver, their parents and the broader community.

Please take advantage of this Parent’s Supervised Driving Program and the streamlined DMV Motorists Handbook to help your teen understand and follow the rules of the road, identify and eliminate distractions, and make responsible decisions regarding speed and other driving behaviors. Help them build a lifetime of safe driving skills.

We’ve added many conveniences for your busy family, including the opportunity to practice for and take the Knowledge and Signs tests online from home 24/7. The program also offers a mobile RoadReady app to track your teen’s driving time, driving conditions and view driving summaries to identify areas for improvement.

Despite these services, we hope you don’t rush the training process. Parents serve an invaluable role in shaping their teen’s driving behaviors and outcomes. The time you spend with your teen as they study and practice behind the wheel will help them become a safer driver. You can be a positive role model for your teen by always exhibiting safe driving behavior, eliminating distractions, and buckling up every time you get behind the wheel. By actively engaging in your teen’s driving journey, you can substantially improve their safe driving behavior and contribute to a safer transportation system for everyone.

Tommy Winkler
Wisconsin DMV Administrator