A recent survey conducted by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) and Iowa State Patrol at the Iowa State Fair highlights significant concerns about distracted driving. The survey, which involved over 1,300 Iowans from nearly every county, revealed that about half of the respondents admit to occasionally using their cell phones while driving, but over 90 percent believe the behavior is extremely dangerous. Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Alex Dinkla says, “Law enforcement already knows cell phone use behind the wheel is dangerous; it’s affirming to hear Iowa drivers feel the same. It’s frustrating that despite the perceived danger, so many drivers admit to doing it.” A March report from Cambridge Mobile Telematics projected that a 10-percent reduction in distracted driving in Iowa could prevent 1,263 crashes, 708 injuries, and six deaths, saving an estimated $50 million in economic damage. Approximately 85 percent of survey respondents supported hands-free driving legislation, but proposed bills have repeatedly failed in the Iowa Legislature since 2019.
