Iowa and Nebraska Laws Combat Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is quickly becoming a public safety concern across the United States. One of the biggest distracters is the prevalent use of cell phones and electronic devices while driving. Iowa and Nebraska are stepping up their efforts to combat distracted driving by implementing a new anti-texting law effective July 1 in Iowa and July 15 in Nebraska. Drivers will incur fines if they are caught composing, reading, or sending electronic text messages or emails while driving.
Iowa and Nebraska join 27 other states with similar cell phone and texting laws designed to diminish distracted driving and promote safety on the road.
Iowa Law
Iowa’s law is considered a secondary offense, which means a driver cannot be pulled over for the texting violation alone. Drivers caught texting will be fined $30. The heavier penalties are obtained if a driver is found to be texting if it leads to serious injury or death of another driver. The fines are up to $1,000 and could lead to a license suspension of 180 days. The provisions of this law do not apply to the following persons:
- A member of a public safety agency performing official duties.
- Health care professionals in the course of an emergency situation.
- A person receiving safety-related information including emergency, traffic, or weather alerts.
Another extension of this law will impact novice drivers between the ages of 14-17. Novice drivers will be prohibited from using cell phones or electronic entertainment devices while driving unless the vehicle is at a complete stop. This will be considered a primary offense for novice drivers.
Nebraska Law
Nebraska’s law is also considered a secondary offense. Drivers caught texting will be fined $200 for the first offense, $300 for the second and $500 for third and subsequent offenses. Nebraska drivers will also receive three points on their licenses for each texting offense.
The provisions of this law do not apply to persons performing official duties as a law enforcement officer, a firefighter, an ambulance driver, an emergency medical technician, or a person operating a motor vehicle in an emergency situation.
Nebraska law already prohibits drivers under the age of 18 from using a wireless communication device while driving. Drivers with school permits found violating this law run the risk of their school permits being revoked.
What Employers Need to Know
The texting ban improves safer roadways for all drivers; however, the advantages of this law are greatly increased when more individuals choose to comply with the new provisions. To reduce auto risk exposure and steer clear of texting fines, employers are strongly encouraged to communicate the new provisions to their employees.
Distracted drivers accounted for nearly 6,000 deaths and more than half a million injuries in 2008. Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. Business owners looking to improve their risk profile and reduce auto accidents are advised to highly enforce the new anti-texting provisions.
For more information on how the texting law could impact your business, contact your Holmes Murphy representative.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration