Articles Tagged: Distracted driving

Why Iowa struggles to pass hands-free driving laws, New law protects bikers, mobile pedestrians in crosswalks, Much progress made, but flood protection next for Time Check Neighborhood, Daily News Podcast Survey

Bills limiting cellphone use while driving by mandating hands-free technology have been introduced in the Iowa Legislature since 2019, but all attempts at passage have been unsuccessful. More than 30 other states have passed such laws. Why won't Iowa?

Also, lawmakers advance traffic camera ban, hands-free driving bill

Sen. Brad Zaun has pushed to ban the traffic cameras ever since he received a citation in 2011 after a camera captured his son speeding while driving the senator’s vehicle in Cedar Rapids.

Among them: C02 pipeline restrictions, sale of birth control pills with a prescription, guns in school parking lots, parental permission for social media

Rob Sand, the lone Democrat to hold statewide office, said if Republicans want to target him directly, they should hurl insults, not advance legislation he said will harm Iowa taxpayers.

The legislation that has stalled in previous years appears to have more momentum this session.

Highway fatalities are rising in Iowa and law enforcement officials believe the state’s difficult-to-enforce laws on distracted driving are playing a role.

Already this year, there have been 110 fatalities on Iowa roads, which is 15 more than a year ago at this time and 29 more than in 2020, according to Iowa Department of Transportation data. Based on the current number, an Iowa State Patrol spokesman said Iowa is on track to see 360 fatalities this year.

In Iowa, last year, there were 373 crashes directly related to distracted driving resulting in six fatalities and more than $4 million in property damage, Iowa State Patrol Maj. Mark Stine told lawmakers.

Goal to keep below 300 in 2021 but already the traffic death toll on Iowa roads so far this year is 119.

The 16-year-old driver in the April crash that killed Andrew Pavlovec faces a charge of vehicular homicide.