Transportation committee votes to approve hands-free driving bill
A group of Iowa state senators wants to restrict phone usage while driving.
The transportation committee just voted Thursday morning to approve a hands-free driving .
It restricts using a phone or any other electronic device while driving unless it's hands-free or voice-activated.
Joann and Peter Bengtson believe this piece of legislation could be what it takes to make stricter laws that could have prevented their daughter's death.
Their daughter, Ellen Bengtson, was riding her bicycle outside of Charles City in 2020 when she was hit and killed.
Court documents show the suspect admitted that he looked at his phone to open up the Facebook app before the crash.
The suspect did face a reckless homicide by vehicle charge, but it was dropped. The Bengtsons say it was explained to them that there wasn't enough evidence to prove he touched his phone.
"We're hoping that the current language addresses those things so there is accountability," said Peter Bengtson. "It will minimize and prevent future events like this happening to some families in Iowa."
The bill would make it illegal to use a phone or portable electronic device while driving unless it's hands-free or voice-activated.
As it stands now, there would be some exceptions under the Senate bill — for first responders using their phones for work — when anyone has to report an emergency — and for people driving farm equipment.
The Iowa State Patrol says cellphone usage is a big factor in many crashes.
"We in law enforcement all know it is a major factor in a lot of crashes out here," said Sgt. Alex Dinkla, of the Iowa State Patrol. "The one difficult thing is it's far underreported, and we know that because of how in-depth we go looking at, as far as a property damage crash. Whether we're looking at clearing that road, or how that happened, or what that distraction in that was."
Next, the bill goes to a full debate and a vote in the Senate.