For the second consecutive year, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau and Iowa State Patrol collaborated at the Iowa State Fair to survey attendees on cell-phone use while driving. The survey, conducted with over 1,300 Iowans from nearly every county, revealed significant concerns about distracted driving.
Nearly 85% of Iowans surveyed support legislation mandating hands-free phone use. Despite repeated attempts since 2019, proposed bills for hands-free driving legislation have failed in the Iowa Legislature. However, hands-free bill SF547 did successfully pass out of the Iowa Senate two years ago on a 47-3 vote. 31 states in the US have now passed a hands-free driving law, including Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Luke Hoffman, Executive Director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, said, “We know Iowans support critical hands-free legislation to prevent distracted driving on our streets. It’s time for the legislature to equip law enforcement with the tools they need by passing hands-free this coming legislative session. We will not rest until our elected leaders take action on this issue.”
Over 90% of respondents surveyed say driving with a cell phone in hand is extremely dangerous, but half of respondents admitting to at least sometimes doing so themselves.
“We know this law would save lives, protect drivers, and improve safe, shared roadways for all Iowans. It’s the seatbelt law of our generation and it's the most common-sense public-safety law we could pass. Every state that has passed it, without exception, has seen a dramatic reduction in traffic incidents related to distracted driving and has saved lives,” says Hoffman. He continued, “It’s time that lawmakers stand with Iowans to support and pass hands-free driving legislation in Iowa.”
In March, a report by Cambridge Mobile Telematics,"The State of US Road Risk in 2024", projected that a modest 10% reduction in distracted driving in Iowa would prevent 1,263 crashes, 708 injuries, six deaths, and save over $50 million in economic damage.
The Iowa Bicycle Coalition is a statewide non-profit organization that advocates for safe, enjoyable, and accessible bicycling in Iowa through education, events, better policy, and building a community of supporters. Our vision is that bicycling in Iowa is safe, enjoyable, and accessible for all. You can learn more atIowabicyclecoalition.org.