Hands-free driving law in effect in Iowa

The state of Iowa joined 31 other states in implementing hands-free driving laws Tuesday. According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, in 2024 there were 933 accidents caused by distracted driving. Among those crashes, 464 people were injured and another 10 people were killed. The legislation signed by Republican Governor Kim Reynolds on April 2nd hopes to address that, it now makes it illegal for drivers to use their phones or other devices while behind the wheel. According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, some of those actions can include: Holding, Texting, Scrolling, Watching Videos, and Making Calls. However, under the new law, drivers will still be allowed to use hands-free options when it comes to using their devices. Despite going into effect Tuesday, drivers do also have a little bit of time to get used to the new law while it goes through a grace period through December 31.