DES MOINES – Iowa’s new hands-free driving law prohibiting hand-held device usage while driving went into effect on July 1, 2025, with an initial warning period through December 31, 2025. Law enforcement and public safety groups, like the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa Governor’s Traffic and Safety Bureau, and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, will be working to educate the public about the new law during this 6-month warning period. 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 Iowa Bicycle Coalition has been a strong advocate for this legislation along with their partners in the End Distracted Driving Coalition, a statewide group of more than 28 organizations, including representatives from law enforcement, business, healthcare, labor, transportation, and insurance sectors. The coalition’s mission is to reduce distracted driving by passing a comprehensive hands-free driving law in Iowa. By uniting diverse voices, the coalition raises awareness, promotes safer roads, and has helped pass this critical legislation during the 2025 Iowa legislative session.
Luke Hoffman, Executive Director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, said, “Passage of the hands-free law is a fundamental leap forward for public safety in our state. The law will make cyclists and pedestrians safer by tamping down on distracted driving, which is a primary cause of incidents where cyclists are hit and killed on our roadways. Also, the law more broadly protects everyone on our shared roadways since the vast majority of distracted driving incidents involve driver-on-driver crashes.â€
Safe Roads Iowa Program Launched with new Funding
Following the passage of the law, the Iowa Bicycle Coalition is working to launch a new program called Safe Roads Iowa, aimed at educating drivers on how they can comply with the new law and be part of the solution for roadway safety. The Iowa Bicycle Coalition has set a goal of fundraising $100,000 for this new program by the end of 2026, and has already received initial startup funding for the program from CHI Health of $2,500 and Fred Hubbell for $10,000, as well as $12,500 from small dollar donors. This momentum has brought together 25% of the total fundraising goal in a short period of time. If you or your company or organization would like to contribute to this new program, use this link.
Practical Tips and Resources for Staying Hands Free
Familiarize yourself with the new rules, using online resources like BIKEIOWA, Iowa Department of Public Safety, Drive Smart Iowa, and GTSB, for details on the hands free driving law.
Practice keeping your hands off your phone — identify your triggers, wrap up messages and call before driving, and rely on passengers.
Turn your phone to “Driving Focus†or “Do Not Disturb†mode while driving.
Install a vehicle phone mount, auxiliary phone cable, or bluetooth connected technology in your vehicle.
Remember the risks and costs of driving distracted. Keeping your phone out of your hands will help save lives.
Future Policy & Program Efforts
Another goal of the program is also to highlight existing programs such as the Share the Road license plate program with the IDOT and Safe Routes to School program, as well as further policy measures that should be taken up in future legislative sessions to continue to put public safety first, such as a Safe Passing Law and combating Super Speeders legislation, like recently passed legislation in Georgia and Washington state.
The Iowa Bicycle Coalition is a statewide nonprofit organization in Iowa that advocates for safe, enjoyable, and accessible bicycling in Iowa through education, events, better policy, and building a community of supporters. Our vision is that bicycling in Iowa is safe, enjoyable, and accessible for all. You can learn more at .
