Iowa House panel unanimously approves bill aimed at distracted driving

By Kathie Obradovich, Iowa Capital Dispatch

Lawmakers in an Iowa House subcommittee unanimously advanced legislation Tuesday, Jan. 28, allowing drivers to use only handsfree devices behind the wheel after more than a dozen lobbyists and members of the public endorsed the measure.

Law enforcement representatives said House Study Bill 64 could save thousands of lives on Iowa roads.

A representative of the Iowa State Patrol told lawmakers that Minnesota saw a 31% reduction in vehicle accidents after enacting a hands-free law, and Illinois saw a 22% drop. If Iowa, with its 56,000 crashes a year, saw a 20% drop from a reduction in distracted driving, there would be more than 11,000 fewer accidents, according to the Patrol.

“We know every day in this country, nine people are killed by distracted drivers, over 1,000 injured. This bill will help drive that down. That’s what we’re looking for,” Major Troy Bailey of the Iowa State Patrol said.

Iowa currently bans texting behind the wheel but allows drivers to handle cellphones for other purposes, such as calling or navigation. Police have long complained the law is difficult to enforce.

Several people who had lost loved ones in vehicle accidents due to distracted driving pleaded with lawmakers to move the bill forward.

Kristi Castenson fought back tears as she said she’s been lobbying for such a law for years after losing her husband and mother-in-law in a crash caused by a driver who was texting behind the wheel.

“This is not someone I want anyone to go through, but in a blink of an eye, my family, our lives were changed because of one careless act,” she said.

Rep. Brent Siegrist, R-Council Bluffs, was among lawmakers who voted to advance the bill to the House Transportation Committee, but he noted the bigger obstacle is the full House.

“The fact of matter is, we’ve passed this bill out of committee twice (in previous years), and it’s time to debate it on the floor and pass it, period,” he said.

The Senate, which has approved the handsfree legislation in past years, advanced a companion bill out of subcommittee last week.

Sen. Mark Lofgren, R-Muscatine, said he believes “this is the year we’re going to get this done.”

At the start of session, Gov. Kim Reynolds brought up hands-free bill as a priority in her Condition of the State address and asked lawmakers for support of a measure that she said will help prevent traffic deaths in Iowa.

“For the sake of all our loved ones on the road, let’s finally pass legislation that requires drivers to keep their eyes on the road and away from their phones,” Reynolds said.

At the Senate subcommittee meeting, advocates representing law enforcement, legal and insurance groups all spoke in support of the bill. Other speakers also shared their personal experiences with distracted drivers and called for action that could prevent people from looking at their phones while driving.

Chad McCluskey, representing the Iowa Police Chiefs Association, said, “The current texting (law) presents a lot of challenges with enforcement, and we applaud the governor and the legislative leadership in taking this up this year and trying to get something passed that helps keep our communities more safe.”

Lofgren said he is “monitoring the House” for action on the bill, and that he is working to ensure both chambers are “totally in agreement” before sending it to the floor to ensure the bill passes.

House Speaker Pat Grassley told reporters after Reynolds’ speech that House Republicans are open to considering the measure again this session, though he did not weigh in on if a hands-free bill would have sufficient support to pass the House.

“For me personally, I’ve kind of moved into a position of, if we can do something in a responsible way and look at what some other states have done to find a balance, I think it’s something that I would be supportive of,” Grassley said.

— Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com.