(Des Moines) For Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) partnered with the Central Iowa Traffic Safety Task Force (CITSTF), and law enforcement agencies across the state to enforce Iowa’s Hands-Free Driving Law. Taking place April 6-10, this dedicated project was part of a national distracted driving enforcement wave and was conducted with the goal of educating drivers about the importance of driving distraction-free.
Over the project period, law enforcement across the state issued 551 hands-free citations and 329 hands-free warnings for a total of 880 hands-free driver violations.
Since the citation period began on January 1, 2026, more than 3,600 citations and 3,100 warnings have been issued. The law prohibits the use of electronic devices beyond a single touch while driving unless they are used in a hands-free mode. The passing of this law is a key factor that contributed to the historic low number of traffic fatalities recorded in 2025.
The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau works with city, county, state, and local organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce death and injury on Iowa roads using federally funded grants.
