(Des Moines) A bill broadening Iowa’s texting and driving laws to prohibit any use of electronic devices is now headed to Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk. Iowa law enforcement agencies have advocated for this change for years.
Audio PlayerSergeant Alex Dinkla, the Iowa State Patrol’s public information director, tells KSOM/KS95 News that the bill’s passage is expected to reduce distracted driving crashes by an estimated 10 percent. This could prevent approximately 1,300 crashes, 700 injuries, and six deaths while also resulting in an economic savings of nearly $15 million.
Audio PlayerSergeant Dinkla says that drivers can only do one thing with the phone under this new law: “One Touch.” Whether answering a phone call, using the voice-acting feature, or operating GPS, the bill allows the one-time touch of a button.
