–Beginning July 1st, motorists in the state of Iowa will be prohibited from handling a cell phone while driving for any reason, and the law enforcement officials are trying to prepare drivers for the change. Iowa State Patrol Trooper Paul Gardner tells KLGA News they want to make sure drivers are aware of the change.
Currently, handling a phone while driving is only prohibited for teenagers and truck drivers.
Distracted driving accounts for nearly one out of every five automobile accidents in Iowa. Gardner says the State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies will begin enforcing the new law on July 1st, but they will give the public time to adjust.
Texting while driving has been illegal in Iowa since July of 2017, but Gardner says it was difficult to enforce because drivers could still handle a phone to make a call or use it for directions.
Statistics from the Iowa Department of Transportation show 354 people died on Iowa’s roadways in 2024, which was down from 378 in 2023. Gardner hopes this new law will help bring the numbers down even further.
