Twenty-seven organizations have formed a coalition to urge the Iowa legislature to pass a law that makes it illegal for motorists to have a smart phone in their hand while driving.

Luke Hoffman is executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, one of the groups that’s part of the lobbying effort.

“We really felt the need to take things to the next level so that we could amplify the voices of each of the organizations and partners that are working really hard and diligently on this issue,” he says.

ABATE of Iowa, a group that represents motorcycle enthusiasts, and the Iowa Motorcycle Dealers Association are part of this effort. Alyson DeMoss, a lobbyist for ABATE of Iowa, has first hand experience with the issue. She was nearly run off a bridge by a driver who was using his cell phone.

“This issue is of utmost importance to motorcyclists,” she says. “It’s already really difficult to see motorcyclists the way it is and distracted driving just adds to that even more.”

In 2017, Governor Terry Branstad approved a ban on texting while driving, but law enforcement has said it’s difficult to enforce. Bills that would ban people from handling their smart phone while driving have stalled in the legislature for years. Hoffman says the “End Distracted Driving Iowa Coalition” is pointing to results in the 30 states that have so-called “hands free” laws that ban handling a smart phone while driving.

“Without exception in each of those 30 states, a double-digit drop in fatalities and incidents,” Hoffman says.

DOT records show distracted driving crashes in Iowa have increased by 43% over the past decade. Last year, over a thousand accidents in Iowa involved distracted drivers.