Supporters of a bill that is expected to be proposed this Iowa Legislative Session would give law enforcement the tools they need to possibly prevent the growing trend of traffic-related fatalities across the state.

Iowa Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Luke Hoffman tells Raccoon Valley Radio they are a major proponent of an Iowa Department of Public Safety bill that would require motorists in Iowa to drive hands-free of mobile devices. He says if drivers need to use their cell phones, they would need to be connected via bluetooth through their vehicles, along with a one-touch exception that would allow for a call to be accepted or denied. Hoffman describes the main purpose behind the legislation.

“But what we really want to avoid is having a phone up to your ear, which again requires a hand, and it distracts you from the main purpose of you being in a car, which is to drive somewhere safely.”

Hoffman notes that all 31 other states in the country that have a similar law have seen significant reductions in traffic-related fatalities. He stresses that this bill would especially be important for communities in the Raccoon Valley Radio area.

“It does disproportionately impact rural Iowans. We know this because of crash data and statistics provided by the DOT (Department of Transportation), the majority of crashes and fatalities happen on rural county roads.”  

Hoffman says two years ago, a similar bill passed through the Iowa Senate 47-3 and was three votes shy in the Iowa House from a floor debate and most likely would have passed. He adds that there are several law enforcement organizations that also support this bill, including the Iowa State Patrol, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, Chief of Police Association, among others.