Remember, No One’s A Good Distracted Driver
Keep your eyes on the road and arrive alive.
What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is any activity that takes your focus away from the road. It’s important to recognize that anything that takes your attention away from driving can lead to dangerous and often fatal consequences. This includes a wide range of behaviors, including:
Texting or talking on the phone: Even a quick glance at your phone can lead to a serious crash.
New hands-free driving law effective July 1, 2025.
Reading: Whether it’s a book, a map or something on your phone, reading takes your eyes off the road.
Eating and drinking: Trying to manage food and drinks while driving can be a major distraction.
Adjusting controls: Fiddling with your playlist, air conditioning or GPS isn’t safe. Make sure you’re comfortable before you start driving.
Grooming: Activities like applying makeup, brushing your hair or shaving should never be done while driving.
Watching videos: Watching movies or TV shows on your device or engaging in video chats with others distracts you from driving.
Conversations with multiple passengers: Engaging in intense conversations with passengers can be a significant distraction.
Effective July 1, 2025
Iowa’s Hands-Free Driving Law: What it Means to You.
In 2024 alone, distracted driving caused more than 10,000 crashes in Iowa.
That’s part of the reason why our state has implemented a hands-free driving law.
When Driving:
- No holding your phone or electronic devices in any way.
- No manually scrolling, typing, or interacting with your phone or electronic devices.
- No entering an address into GPS.
- No streaming videos or making video calls.
- No viewing texts, videos or social media.
- No calling, texting or dialing unless doing it hands-free.
When you go hands-free, you can help limit distractions and avoid fines.
What Counts as an “Electronic Device”
Cell Phones
Tablets
Laptops
PDAs
Gaming Controllers
Ways to Stay Hands-Free
Auxiliary Cable
Bluetooth®
Connect your phone to your car speakers with an aux cable or wirelessly with Bluetooth®.
Focus Mode
Enable “Driving” mode from your phone’s focus settings.
Vehicle Mount
Place your phone in a secure location or use a vehicle mount to secure your phone.
Speakerphone
Voice Commands
Use voice commands, single tap and speakerphone to comply with hands-free laws.
Texting and Driving: A Deadly Combination
Imagine you’re driving down the highway, your phone buzzes, and you glance at it for just a second. In that moment, you’re not watching the road. Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving because it combines visual, manual and cognitive distractions. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, which at 55 mph is equivalent to driving the length of an entire football field, blind (VTTI).
Smart drivers know that no message is worth a life. Be a smart driver — keep your eyes on the road.
The Consequences of Distracted Driving
You might think you’re an excellent multitasker, but when it comes to driving, distractions can be deadly. In Iowa, distracted driving has led to numerous crashes, resulting in severe injuries and fatalities. Imagine the guilt and regret you’d feel if a moment of distraction led to a tragic crash. Smart drivers avoid distractions and focus solely on driving. It’s all about keeping yourself and others safe so that everyone arrives alive.
How to Be a Smart Driver
Put your phone away: Turn off notifications or use a driving mode to avoid the temptation of looking at your phone while driving.
Plan ahead: Set your GPS and select your music before you start driving.
Stay focused: To ensure you keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and mind on driving, turn on your phone’s driving focus feature. It will prevent distractions from notifications. Remember, a smart driver stays focused and avoids distractions.
Educate and encourage others: Talk to friends and family about the dangers of distracted driving. Lead by example and encourage others to be smart drivers too.
Distracted FAQs
The law was implemented July 1, 2025.
- Connect your phone to your car speakers with an aux cord.
- Get a vehicle mount and use voice commands.
- Use Bluetooth®, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
- Turn on your speakerphone.
Distracted driving includes any activity that diverts attention from driving, like talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, adjusting the stereo, entertainment or navigation system, reading, grooming and watching videos.
Distracted driving can result in crashes that cause severe injuries or fatalities. It’s a major safety threat that affects everyone on the road.
Put your phone away, plan your route and before you start driving, and stay focused on the road. Encourage passengers to help keep the environment calm and free of distractions.
While hands-free calling is safer than using a handheld device, it can still be a distraction. It’s best to minimize all phone use while driving to ensure maximum attention on the road.
If you need to use your phone, use the hands-free option or pull over to a safe location and park your car before using your phone.
In Iowa, drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using electronic devices entirely, unless the vehicle is stopped and off the traveled portion of the roadway or the device is permanently installed in the vehicle or operated through permanently installed equipment.
You can help spread awareness by talking to friends and family about the dangers of distracted driving, sharing information on social media and leading by example. Consider applying for traffic safety grants to install signage in your community to raise awareness about roadway safety.
Take Action: Help Us Promote Roadway Safety
Distracted driving is preventable, and together, we can work towards zero deaths on Iowa roads. Apply for a traffic safety grant to install signage in your community to raise awareness about roadway safety, especially around school zones, hospital zones, pedestrian zones, and construction zones. Stay focused, stay safe, and always be a smart driver.