From a campaign from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition

Twenty-one states now ban hand-held cell phone use. Iowa needs to join those states and pass a law toban cell phone use while driving unless using the phone in hands-free mode.

Using a cellphone while driving increases crash risk. The drivers who spent the greatest amount of their driving time interacting with a cellphone also had the highest rates of near crashes and crashes. Researchers have consistently linked texting or otherwise manipulating a cellphone to increased risk.Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and other portable devices tripled the risk of getting into a crash.

Based on national police-reported data on fatal crashes in the United States during 2017, 3,166 people died in motor vehicle crashes in which distraction was deemed a contributing factor. That is about9 percent of all crash deaths.

Drivers are distracted by things other than cellphones, so prohibiting phone use will not eliminate distracted driving. However, research has documented that bans on hand-held phone use reduce overall phone use.

Senate File 76 will require cell phone use while driving to be in hands-free mode. It is a step in the right direction to reduce distracted driving.

Sign the petition to stand for banning handheld cell phones while driving.

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