Hunter
04/03/25
Iowa will join 30 other states in banning handheld cellphone use for drivers beginning in July.
The bill took years before passing. It prohibits drivers from using their cellphones or any electronic devices while driving, unless they’re in hands-free or voice-activated mode.
In a statement from her office, Governor Kim Reynolds said, “30 States across the country have passed lifesaving, hands-free legislation, and today Iowa became number 31. It’s especially meaningful that we did so on April 2, exactly two years to the day Roland Taylor was tragically killed by a distracted driver. It was an honor to sign this bill in his memory and in memory of every Iowan lost to distracted driving.”
Tayor, a farmer from Terril, was killed as he was driving his tractor when he was hit by a pickup truck driver who was using his phone.
The final push to get the law enacted was made by a coalition called End Distracted Driving Iowa, formed in December and consisting of members from law enforcement, families, bicycling groups, motorcyclists, insurance companies and businesses.