(Radio Iowa) – The number of crashes and deaths in Iowa attributed to drivers being distracted by their smartphones continues to climb, and a study finds a simple, free feature that’s already on our phones could help to prevent many of those accidents. Brian Ortner, spokesman for Triple-A Iowa, says the “Do Not Disturb” function can be activated in just seconds and it may hold the key to curbing risky behavior behind the wheel.
The Triple-A study found some drivers mistakenly think using the “Do Not Disturb” feature will limit access to music and navigation, which it won’t.
Federal studies show distracted driving contributes to about nine-percent of all fatal crashes. In 2024, distracted driving is blamed in more than 10-thousand crashes in Iowa, according to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau. The Triple-A study found even drivers who knew about the “Do Not Disturb” feature tended not to use it.
Last year, Governor Kim Reynolds signed the “Hands-Free” bill into law which makes it illegal to hold your phone while driving, though using “hands-free” or voice-activated mode is still allowed. While the law took effect last July, law officers only started writing citations this past January.
