DES MOINES — The Iowa Department of Public Safety, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) are collaborating to educate the public on Iowa’s new Hands-Free Driving Law. Governor Kim Reynolds signed bill SF 22 into law on April 2, 2025, making Iowa the 31st state in the nation to enact hands-free legislation. The law will go into effect on July 1, 2025, with an initial warning period through December 31, 2025.

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of traffic crashes. A 2024 GTSB survey of over 1,300 Iowans from nearly every county revealed that 90% of respondents considered using a cell phone while driving to be extremely dangerous, even though 50% admitted to driving with a phone in their hand.

“Iowa’s new hands-free law marks a pivotal moment in our fight against distracted driving; it’s an unprecedented opportunity to fundamentally change driver behavior,” says Brett Tjepkes with the GTSB. “By embracing this change, we can drastically reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our roads, making Iowa safer for everyone.”

The hands-free law prohibits drivers from using electronic devices while driving unless the device is in a hands-free setting. This means drivers cannot hold their phone, type, scroll, enter GPS coordinates, stream video, view content, or make calls unless voice activated. Drivers can use several options to stay hands-free: phone mounts, auxiliary cables, speakerphone features, Bluetooth, and other voice command systems.

With the implementation of the new law, the Iowa State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies will focus on both education and enforcement during the six-month warning period. Law enforcement across the state is distributing educational materials to raise awareness about the law and how drivers can comply with it. The Department of Transportation, cities, and various coalitions are also distributing information.

“Every life lost to distracted driving is a tragedy,” says Iowa State Patrol Colonel Nathan Fulk. “By adopting Iowa’s new hands-free law, we are taking a major step toward safer roads in our state. Let’s all do our part: put down the phone, focus on the road, and help make Iowa’s roads safer for everyone.”

Iowans are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new law and consider what hands-free options will work best for them and their vehicle. For more hands-free resources, please visit https://dps.iowa.gov/hands-free-law-materials or DriveSmartIowa.com.

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

Starting Tuesday, July 1, it will be illegal for Iowa motorists to hold a cell phone, scroll through it or watch videos on it while driving.

“This new ‘hands free’ law says exactly that. Get that phone out of that hand. Find another place for it,” says Sergeant Alex Dinkla, the Iowa State Patrol’s spokesman. “From July 1 to December 31 the Iowa State Patrol and many other law enforcement folks throughout the state of Iowa will be using that as a six-month educational period to educate both drivers and the public of what this new law means.”

A 2017 Iowa law has banned texting while driving, but Dinkla says it’s been hard to enforce because drivers were allowed to handle their phones to make calls or fiddle with digital maps for navigation. That changes July 1.

“We know that there’s a rising trend with people using technology and these devices going down the road rather than paying attention and focusing,” Dinkla says. “We need to all remember we’ve got to get back to the basics. We need to retrain our mind to put that phone down and eliminate those distractions.”

If a vehicle doesn’t have “hands-free” technology, Dinkla says there are ways to adapt. “We don’t need people to run out and buy the latest, greatest, most expensive vehicle just so that they can comply with this law,” Dinkla says. “There are simple low cost or even no cost ways to comply with this.”

There are small Bluetooth transmitters that can be installed in vehicles that don’t have the technology. The law allows for one-touch activation, so Dinkla says you could buy a cell phone holder and answer calls in speaker mode. However, Dinkla says the best option is having the phone in “do not disturb” mode while driving. “Take away that distraction, take away that temptation,” Dinkla says, “so that when you get to your safe location and you’re able to pull over, out of the way of traffic, check those notifications and respond at that time.”

Starting January 1, the fine for handling a cell phone while driving will be $100. Fines escalate if there’s an accident causing serious injury or death. There are some exemptions in the bill for people like bus drivers, emergency responders and people driving farm machinery.

Here’s a guide about the new law: HandsFree-Guide PDF