Latest news with #SenateFile22
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Four tips from Iowans on how to break texting and driving habits before July 1
Iowa cyclists participating in Ride of Silence 2025 sit for each injured cyclist, lie down for each cyclist killed on the roads in the past year, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, outside State Historical Society of Iowa. (Photo by Tom Foley/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Americans check their phone on average 205 times a day or around once every five minutes. With phones seldom out of reach, it can be difficult to moderate usage in an increasingly connected world. For many people, this habit can persist even when behind the wheel, but the distraction it provides can have real consequences. On July 1, Iowa law enforcement will begin distributing warnings for the handheld use of electronic devices while driving. Here's how to break texting and driving habits before then to avoid a penalty, or worse. For background, Senate File 22, signed on April 2, 2025, bans the handheld use of cellphones and other electronic devices while driving when not in hands-free or voice-activated mode. Officers will begin enforcing the act on July 1, and will begin penalizing violations on Jan. 1, 2026. Drivers convicted of a violation will be charged with a simple misdemeanor after Jan. 1. Here are some tips from four Iowans who work to decrease distracted driving in their communities on how to break the habit for good: 'People need to recognize that operating an electronic device while they're driving is a distraction, and that distraction can cause harm to others and themselves,' said Larry Loss, an active cyclist and Des Moines metro resident since 1993. Loss was crossing an intersection on his bike on May 18, 2022, when a young male driver, who was on his phone, made a right turn directly in front of him. Loss was cut off from the bike trail and collided into the curb, which propelled him into the concrete base of a utility pole. The injuries he sustained resulted in two surgeries, 17 days in the hospital, and left him unable to return to work for two months. The driver of the car never stopped. Loss, however, considers himself to be one of the 'lucky ones,' as he can still tell his story. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2023, 3,275 lives were lost and around 325,000 were injured in crashes related to distracted driving. Around 8% of all fatal crashes involved distracted driving. The day of the crash, BikeIowa was holding its 18th annual Ride of Silence. Every year since 2005, cyclists from across Iowa have gathered to remember the riders injured and killed on the roads and trails in the past year, celebrate current achievements, and discuss how to continually make the roads safer for bikers going forward. Loss joined Luke Hoffman, director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, Scott Sumpter, founder of BikeIowa, and many others for the 21st annual Ride of Silence on Wednesday. Loss says drivers should determine if their vehicle has Bluetooth capability and get the system set up as soon as possible to prepare for the changes in the law. If not, researching a compatible Bluetooth adapter or external system will allow drivers time to familiarize themselves with this technology before the law goes into effect on July 1. 'If you are tempted to reach for your phone in the cup holder, maybe leave it in your bag' said Ryan Crane, executive director of NAMI Iowa. Crane is the executive director of the Iowa branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI Iowa registered in favor of Senate File 22 during the legislative process. NAMI Iowa works to help communities address concerns about mental illness and provide information on treatment. A 2024 report from found not only that Americans check their phones over 200 times a day on average also that the figure represented a 42.3% increase from 2023. The survey also showed that over 43% of Americans feel addicted to their phones — and like other addictions, the habit is not easy to break. Crane recommends drivers compassionately but intentionally observe themselves as they drive to understand what triggers them to pick up their phone. NAMI Iowa and other mental health institutions have recently begun to promote the importance of self-compassion as the standard for mental health practices. Research by the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education indicates that self-compassion is a learnable mindset that is linked to decreased stress and increased productivity. These things can play a major role in personal ability to identify and modify behaviors. By understanding what triggers the impulse, without excessive self-judgment, each driver can implement a solution that works for them. 'Awareness is honestly the first step,' Crane said. Some solutions may include finding another activity to replace the habit, such as anchoring their hands on 10 and two, placing their phone out of arm's reach, regularly creating new playlists to prevent constant song-skipping, etc. 'If you have text messages, emails, phone calls that you need to handle, do that right as you get in the car,' said Luke Hoffman, executive director of Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Hoffman and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition were major supporters of Senate File 22, with some members advocating for some form of a hands-free bill for more than 10 years. He believes that this act is a 'fundamental leap forward for safety in Iowa.' Hoffman and the IBC plan to launch a 'Safe Roads Iowa' educational campaign sometime after July 1, which seeks to educate local communities on best practices for driving safety. Setting aside time to settle online to-dos before driving may grant drivers the peace of mind to put down the phone while on the road. This can take the form of setting up GPS directions prior to starting the car, utilizing the 'add stop' GPS function for each destination if there are multiple, enabling driving mode on Android devices or driving focus on Apple and ensuring no notifications are set up to bypass this feature, etc. 'If you have a passenger, designate them to be your phone person,' said Dr. Cara Hamann, director of the University of Iowa Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Safety Lab and UI associate professor of epidemiology. Hamann and the TRIPS lab put together a policy brief that outlined 'the gaps in the distracted driving laws in Iowa.' She also personally made visits to the Capitol to speak with legislators about her research and inform them about her findings. Among facts outlined in the brief: State bans on handheld phones while driving reduce handheld usage of electronics devices shortly after the laws take effect by almost 50%; Handheld bans are associated with fewer driver deaths, while texting-only bans are not and may be more enforceable by law enforcement. A designated phone user allows the driver to stay connected without investing in Bluetooth or other hands-free hardware. Designating a phone user ensures drivers aren't tempted to pick up the phone themselves. This may be a solution for drivers with non-integrated cars who can't afford to invest in additional hardware. Other than working as a designated phone user, Hamann recommends passengers speak up if drivers go to grab their phone while on the road. 'We need to work towards a cultural shift to make it the norm for people not to be using their phones,' she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
Iowa bill banning cellphone use while driving passes
A bill intended to combat distracted driving in Iowa is heading to Gov. Kim Reynolds to sign. Senate File 22 would ban the use of electronic devices in any way unless they're in hands-free mode. The bill has been up for debate the last three sessions with support from people whose relatives died in collisions involving distracted drivers. The Iowa House passed Senate File 22 in an 84 to 11 vote March 26. Officers will start issuing warnings July 1. Drivers caught breaking the law will be fined $100 starting January 1, 2026. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill banning handheld cellphone use while driving heads to governor's desk
After years of trying, Iowa lawmakers have sent a bill to the governor's desk banning handheld use of cellphones while driving. (Photo via Getty Images) After years of failed starts, the Iowa Legislature has finally sent legislation banning the handheld use of cellphones while driving to Gov. Kim Reynolds. The Iowa House passed Senate File 22 on a 84-11 vote Wednesday. The legislation is an expansion of Iowa's current laws banning texting while driving to cover any handheld use of a cellphone. Drivers could still use a device in hands-free or voice-activated modes under the legislation. If signed into law, the bill would be enacted July 1, 2025, when law enforcement officers would begin giving warnings for violation of the measure. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, violations of the law would result in a fine of $100. If the incident results in an injury, that fine would increase to $500; in cases causing death, the fine would be $1,000. It's a change to Iowa law that law enforcement officers have been asking the Legislature to pass for years, as Iowa's current distracted driving laws are difficult to enforce. An officer who sees a person using a cellphone behind the wheel often cannot tell if a person was texting or using their phone for an approved function, like navigation. Though sought by law enforcement and families of people who died in accidents involving distracted drivers, the measure has for years failed to advance through the Iowa House. Rep. Sean Bagniewski, D-Des Moines, thanked the families who came to speak with lawmakers at subcommittee meetings and with committee members about the measure, saying 'their advocacy, for years now, is what brought us to this moment.' This year, the measure gained more momentum as Reynolds called for lawmakers to support a measure to ban the handheld use of cellphones while driving in her January Condition of the State address, which she said will help prevent traffic deaths. The measure received only one 'no' vote in the Iowa Senate from Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen, R-Walcott. In the House Wednesday, 10 Republicans and one Democrat voted against the measure. No representatives spoke in opposition to the bill during floor debate. Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge, floor manager for the legislation, thanked the Iowans who for years spoke about the need to pass a ban on the use of handheld electronic advices behind the wheel. 'Thanks to everyone who's worked on this bill over the years, especially thanks to the families — telling your story is very difficult, but it has made a difference,' Meyer said. 'I do believe this legislation will save lives.' Advocates celebrated the bill's passage Wednesday. Luke Hoffman, executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, said in a news release the bill 'will save lives and make our roads safer for all Iowans' 'Iowa urgently needs a hands-free driving law, and the Iowa Bike Coalition has worked towards this day for nearly seven years since it was first introduced,' Hoffman said. 'We have been persistent in our efforts because of the stories our advocates elevate of Iowans impacted by this issue. … We do this for them, for their families, and know that this new law will for a fact prevent unnecessary future loss of loved ones. This law is the seatbelt law of our generation, and we will be working in the coming months to educate the general public on how we can all change behavior so we can save lives, together.' The measure heads to Reynolds, who is expected to sign the measure into law.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate votes to restrict drivers' use of handheld devices, then raises speed limits
The Iowa Senate passed legislation Tuesday to bar drivers' use of hand-held devices behind the wheel. (Photo by Andrew Kennard for Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Iowa Senate voted Tuesday to ban the use of handheld cellphones and other devices behind the wheel, while turning down an effort to extend the ban to drivers of farm implements. A few minutes later, senators also voted to raise the state's 'default' speed limit from 55 mph to 60, a change that largely affects undivided paved highways. Senators approved Senate File 22 on a vote of 47-1 with Republican Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen of Walcott as the only 'no' vote. The bill expands Iowa's current prohibition on texting while driving to any use of a handheld cell phone or other electronic device while driving. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX State law enforcement officials have been asking for the change for years, arguing that the current law is difficult to enforce. While an officer may see a device in a driver's hand, they typically can't see whether it's being used for text messaging or some allowed use, like navigation. Sen. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines, proposed an amendment to eliminate an exemption in the bill for drivers of farm equipment, saying lawmakers should focus on safety for all Iowans on the roads. The amendment failed on a vote of 13-35, with opponents arguing in part that the bill would not pass the House if senators expanded the bill. Sen. Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan, said the bill needed to be narrowly crafted to make it through both chambers of the Legislature, and he said the legislation is focused on where there are problems. 'I don't think anyone has a statistic on distracted driving with a piece of farm equipment that created an accident. I tried to find those statistics. They're not out there,' he said. The bill now moves to the House. Senators also passed Senate File 378 to raise the speed limit to 60 mph on roads where a limit is not otherwise designated. Gruenhagen, who led debate, said the change brings Iowa in line with other states. Gruenhagen cited the Department of Public Safety saying that the average speed on paved, undivided highways is 62 to 64 mph, exceeding the current limit. Opponents argued that drivers would go even faster if the limit were raised. 'It's easy to state the reason for opposing this. Two words: speed kills,' Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said. 'I can feel the hypocrisy right now in this room,' added opponent Sen. Art Staed, D-Cedar Rapids, said, noting the focus on safety in approval of the previous bill. The bill generated more opposition than the cellphone legislation, but passed on a vote of 36-12. It also moves to the House for consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate votes to restrict drivers' use of handheld devices, then raises speed limits
The Iowa Senate passed legislation Tuesday to bar drivers' use of hand-held devices behind the wheel. (Photo by Andrew Kennard for Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Iowa Senate voted Tuesday to ban the use of handheld cellphones and other devices behind the wheel, while turning down an effort to extend the ban to drivers of farm implements. A few minutes later, senators also voted to raise the state's 'default' speed limit from 55 mph to 60, a change that largely affects undivided paved highways. Senators approved Senate File 22 on a vote of 47-1 with Republican Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen of Walcott as the only 'no' vote. The bill expands Iowa's current prohibition on texting while driving to any use of a handheld cell phone or other electronic device while driving. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX State law enforcement officials have been asking for the change for years, arguing that the current law is difficult to enforce. While an officer may see a device in a driver's hand, they typically can't see whether it's being used for text messaging or some allowed use, like navigation. Sen. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines, proposed an amendment to eliminate an exemption in the bill for drivers of farm equipment, saying lawmakers should focus on safety for all Iowans on the roads. The amendment failed on a vote of 13-35, with opponents arguing in part that the bill would not pass the House if senators expanded the bill. Sen. Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan, said the bill needed to be narrowly crafted to make it through both chambers of the Legislature, and he said the legislation is focused on where there are problems. 'I don't think anyone has a statistic on distracted driving with a piece of farm equipment that created an accident. I tried to find those statistics. They're not out there,' he said. The bill now moves to the House. Senators also passed Senate File 378 to raise the speed limit to 60 mph on roads where a limit is not otherwise designated. Gruenhagen, who led debate, said the change brings Iowa in line with other states. Gruenhagen cited the Department of Public Safety saying that the average speed on paved, undivided highways is 62 to 64 mph, exceeding the current limit. Opponents argued that drivers would go even faster if the limit were raised. 'It's easy to state the reason for opposing this. Two words: speed kills,' Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said. 'I can feel the hypocrisy right now in this room,' added opponent Sen. Art Staed, D-Cedar Rapids, said, noting the focus on safety in approval of the previous bill. The bill generated more opposition than the cellphone legislation, but passed on a vote of 36-12. It also moves to the House for consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
