Iowa bill to ban handheld phones while driving advances
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A bill to ban handheld phones while driving is moving forward in the Iowa Legislature after passing a subcommittee meeting on Wednesday.
Why it matters: While the legislation has struggled to pass over the last few years, Republican leaders seem more receptive to it this session.
- It also received support from Gov. Kim Reynolds during her Condition of the State address.
Flashback: Iowa passed a texting-while-driving ban in 2017, but drivers are still allowed to use their phones for other reasons, such as for GPS or making calls.
- Local advocates say that law can make it more challenging for law enforcement to determine if they can cite someone for texting.
State of play: In Iowa, there were 123 deaths and over 8,000 injuries caused by distracted driving from 2019 to 2023 — and this is likely underreported, according to a recent policy brief from the University of Iowa's Injury Prevention Research Center.
Zoom in: UI researchers say a comprehensive ban against cellphone use, except for voice-activated technology, can improve safety.
- They point to a 2021 study showing that bans reduce driver deaths, but there were no changes in deaths for states that only enacted calling or texting bans.
What they're saying: Cara Hamann, an epidemiology professor at UI, tells Axios a comprehensive ban would be more likely to deter Iowans from using their phones because the rules are clearer and it's easier for law enforcement to penalize drivers.
- "It closes all the loopholes," Hamann says.