On July 1, 2025, Iowa officially became the 31st state to ban all hand‑held cellphone use while driving with its landmark Senate File 22 (SF 22). This means no holding, scrolling, typing, dialing, video‑calling, or GPS‑input—unless it’s done through voice-activated, hands-free systems. For the rest of 2025, law enforcement will issue warnings; so far, for the month of July, there have already been more than 1,400 warnings given. Citations and $100 fines begin January 1, 2026, with fines increasing if the act resulted in injury or fatality.
Why the push for change?
Annually in the U.S., roughly 3,300 deaths and 289,000 injuries result from distracted driving.
In Iowa between 2019–2023, distracted driving caused 123 deaths and over 8,000 injuries.
Locally, 16% of Iowa’s 55,000+ annual crashes involve distractions—about 9,000 accidents, with about 400 tied to operating electronic devices.
We’ve already seen how updates in the law can have a positive impact on safety. In 2017, Iowa’s lawmakers upgraded distracted-driving laws:
Hand‑held device use became a primary offense, not just texting.
Crashes involving electronics dropped 10.8% in one year and cumulatively 23.6% by 2024.
Estimated direct economic savings: $65 million (2018–2025).
With clearer penalties and enforcement, distracted-driving dipped significantly. This law is just one more step in creating an even greater impact on the safety of Iowa roads. Minnesota, after passing a similar hands free bill, saw a 31% decrease in car accidents.
Not only do these laws have proven results, but they are also typically widely supported by citizens who know just how tempting distractions can be. Even though 90% of drivers claim to understand how dangerous cell phones can be while driving, more than 50% of them still admit to often operating a vehicle with cell phone in hand.
All this considered, Iowa’s implementation of a hands-free law was a necessary step in improving the safety of Iowa roads. As we continue through this grace period, drivers would be wise to get a grip on safe driving practices…and loose the grip on their phone.
