New data shows reduction in distracted driving in year since Iowa’s adoption of hands-free law

New data shows reduction in distracted driving in year since Iowa's adoption of hands-free law

Nationwide, Cambridge Mobile Telematics report Iowa drivers are putting their phones down when driving

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One year after Iowa's Hands-Free Driving Law took effect prohibiting motorists from handling a cell phone or electronic device while driving, new data from Nationwide and Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) shows clear declines in phone-related distraction behind the wheel - an encouraging sign the law is helping to increase safety on Iowa roads.

Why it matters
Based on analysis of claims resulting from an auto collision, Nationwide found that a driver is 3.5 times more likely to be involved in a crash when driving distracted.

Iowa drivers are showing measurable behavior change since the law took effect on July 1, 2025. The data suggests that an education campaign, a six-month warning period, and full enforcement effective January 1, 2026, have contributed to more drivers putting the phone down and focusing on the road.

By the numbers
Analytics derived from mobile telematics found that phone-related distraction among Nationwide-insured drivers in Iowa dropped in several key behaviors over the last year.

• 13.6% reduction on screen-tapping interactions since full enforcement, an improvement from 5.9% during warning period
• 9.1% reduction in handheld calling since full enforcement, an improvement from 8.2% during warning period
• During full enforcement, Iowa drivers logged about 140,700 fewer phone-motion events than expected based on pre-law driving behavior

Nationwide Methodology
The analysis above is based on anonymized, opt-in mobile telematics data used to evaluate changes in phone-related distraction among Iowa drivers before and after the state's hands-free law took effect from July 1, 2025 to June 15, 2026.

Additional insights from CMT, which include distracted driving data from over 30 safe driving programs across the U.S., show from July 2025 to May 2026:

• 85 of Iowa's 99 counties saw decreases in phone motion
  • Among the state's 10 largest counties, nine experienced reductions of at least 4% and Iowa's largest county, Polk County, decreased distraction by 9.2%.
• Top-performing counties achieved reductions in distraction ranging from 13% to 17% with biggest improvements seen in Ringgold, Page, Calhoun, Wayne, and Lyon.
• The reduction in distraction has helped Iowa prevent an estimated 470 crashes, 210 injuries, 3 fatalities, and $20.3 million in economic damage¹.

Together, the Nationwide and CMT findings point to the same conclusion: Iowa drivers are showing measurable reductions in risky phone-related behavior since the law took effect.

The big picture
"Promoting responsible driving behavior through legislative advocacy and safe driving programs like SmartRide and Focused Driving Rewards is an ongoing priority for Nationwide," said Casey Kempton, President, P&C Personal Lines for Nationwide. "Meaningful change can happen when like-minded partners come together, and we commend Iowa's Department of Public Safety and the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau for their continued commitment to positively influence distracted-driving behaviors among drivers across the state."

"Distracted driving is one of the most preventable dangers on our roads, and Iowa has shown the nation that change is within reach," said William V. Powers, Co-Founder and CEO of CMT. "This is the future of road safety: proactive, measurable, and lifesaving. If the rest of the country follows Iowa's lead, we can save tens of thousands of lives and redefine what it means to be safe behind the wheel."

About the law
Governor Kim Reynolds signed Iowa's Hands-Free Driving Law on April 2, 2025, making Iowa the 31^st state in the nation to enact hands-free legislation. Since the law's effective date July 1, 2025, the Iowa State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies have been educating motorists on what constitutes distracted driving and how to comply with the law.

"As we approach the one-year mark for enacting Iowa's hands-free law, it is exciting to see Nationwide's data showing a reduction of in-vehicle phone usage across the state of Iowa," says Iowa State Patrol Colonel Nathan Fulk. "This progress reflects the collaborative efforts from our law enforcement personnel, safety advocates, and our private partners, like Nationwide. Most importantly, it highlights Iowans who have demonstrated safe driving behavior and embraced the message that no text, call or notification is worth risking a life."

Visit DriveSmartIowa.com for more information about Iowa's Hands-Free Driving Law and tips for avoiding distractions while driving.

¹ Estimates are based on changes in crash rates from distracted driving, combined with the average crash cost of $23,954 from NHTSA's report The Economic and Societal Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2019, and 2022 crash records reported by the State of Iowa.

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