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(Iowa) -- The Iowa State Patrol says the state’s new hands-free driving law helped Iowa record its lowest traffic fatality count in 100 years.
"January to June of 2025, there was a reduction of 17 fatalities. We look from July to December, and there was roughly 80 fatalities less. Obviously, one of the big changes was the hands-free law," said Sergeant Alex Dinkla, Iowa State Patrol.
11,237 warnings were handed out in the first six months of the Iowa hands-free law.
As of January 1, drivers caught using a handheld device face a $100 fine, with penalties up to $1,000 if a violation causes a death.
Iowa saw 260 traffic fatalities in 2025.