In a historic moment for the state of Iowa, SF547 on handsfree/distracted driving has passed in the Iowa Senate with an overwhelming vote of 47-3. This bill would make it illegal to use a handheld device while driving, which would significantly reduce the number of crashes caused by distracted driving.
This is a major win for road safety in Iowa, and we want to thank all the advocates and political leaders who have tirelessly supported this bill. We want to extend a special thank you to Senator Mark Lofgren (R-Muscatine) for his unwavering support of this critical legislation. During the debate on the bill, he spoke about the heartbreaking stories of victims’ families who have lost loved ones due to distracted driving. His passion for this cause has been instrumental in bringing this bill to the forefront of the conversation on road safety in Iowa.
However, our work is not done yet. The bill now moves to the Iowa House for consideration, where there are legislators who are against it and trying to kill it. We must continue to take action and make our voices heard to ensure that this bill becomes law.
If you want to support SF547 and advocate for road safety in Iowa, you can take action at www.drivesafeiowa.org. This website provides information on how to contact your State Representative and urge them to support this critical bill.
Additionally, if you want to make a difference and contribute to the efforts to pass this bill, you can make a donation at www.iowabicyclecoalition.org/gives. Every contribution helps to support the important work of advocacy organizations in Iowa.
Let’s continue to work together to make Iowa’s roads safer and reduce the number of accidents caused by distracted driving. Together, we can make a difference and save lives.