January 28th, 2023 DIP News

New Bills Would Curb Iowans Dangerous Driving Habits

Senseless Deaths are happening in Iowa due to teens driving at high rates of speed. A bill being proposed would put governors on vehicles of teens to control their speed, and the device would be partially paid for by the state . If passed, the state would be looking into insurers to cut the rates for teen drivers with vehicles with the device.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding is a leading cause of teenage deaths in car accidents. about 26% of all teenage driver and passenger deaths in the United States occurred in speed-related crashes. The NHTSA also reports that male teenagers are more likely to be involved in speed-related crashes than female teenagers.

Another bill would require Iowans to us hands-free devices. There are over 3000 people killed annually by people using cell phones while driving nationwide. NHTSA reports that there were over 400,000 motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers, which resulted in an estimated $74 billion in economic losses. These losses include things like damage to vehicles and other property, as well as medical expenses, lost productivity, and other costs. It’s important to use cellphones responsibly while driving to prevent accidents and reduce the risk of property damage.