Distracted driving targeted by Iowa law

“OK Google,” or “Hey Siri” may be heard a lot more frequently in vehicles beginning July 1 as Iowans will be prohibited from handheld cellphone usage while driving.

Iowa is now the 31st state to institute a hands-free driving law after SF 22 was signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds April 2.

“Thirty states across the country have passed lifesaving, hands-free legislation, and today Iowa became number 31,” Reynolds said. “It’s especially meaningful that we did so on April 2, exactly two years to the day Roland Taylor was tragically killed by a distracted driver. It was an honor to sign this bill in his memory and in memory of every Iowan lost to distracted driving.”

The bill is not limited to cellphones but any electronic devices, defined as, “a device that is powered by electricity, including by a battery, and that is capable of being used to compose, send, receive or read an electronic message, or that is capable of storing, retrieving on-demand or displaying videos, movies, broadcast television images, visual images or audio or video data files.”

In addition to cellphones, this would include digital assistants, computers, tablets and electronic gaming devices. Things physically or electronically integrated into the motor vehicle, like GPS, would not count.

“Use” of the device includes, but is not limited to, holding, viewing or manipulating an electronic device.

While the use of voice-activation or hands-free mode is encouraged, it still does not allow drivers to access video content, engage in video calls, accessing gaming data or reading a notification or message. Drivers will be allowed to use the device while at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway.

“Cellphones are a distraction. Anytime you take your eyes off the road to look at anything, it’s a distraction — it’s an issue," Union County Sheriff Brian Bolton said. “I remember telling my kids when they started driving that there’s so much responsibility going into it. You’re operating something that could easily take someone’s life. You have to treat that with the utmost respect and caution.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving claimed 3,275 lives in 2023. Of these fatal crashes, 286 were killed by distracted teens (15-19).

“Parents first have to lead by example — by never driving distracted — as well as have a talk with their young driver about distraction and all of the responsibilities that come with driving," the NHTSA states. “Remind your teen driver that in states with graduated driver licensing (GDL), a violation of distracted-driving laws could mean a delayed or suspended license.”

In an IIHS survey of U.S. drivers, more than 20% of respondents reported engaging in at least one smartphone-based distraction, such as making video calls, watching videos or using social media, on most or all of their trips.

Reynolds said Minnesota saw a 31% reduction in crashes one year after enacting its law and 25% in the second year.

Even without causing an accident, distracted driving has an impact.

“On the highways, it’s constantly that we are running with lights and sirens behind someone distracted that doesn’t see us; they don’t get over,” Bolton said. “It puts us at risk, it puts them at risk and takes more time for us to get to the person we are going to help.”

From July 1 to Dec. 31, law enforcement will be only issuing warnings for violating the hands-free driving law. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, a $100 citation could be imposed for the infraction.