On February 2, 2023, the Senate Transportation Committee voted to move along two bills that are priorities of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Both bills were passed unanimously.
SF16 addresses standard penalties for fatal crashes involving motor vehicles and bicycles. In the Iowa Code, steering unreasonably close to a bicyclist is not on the enhanced penalty list similar to motor vehicle crashes or pedestrian crashes. While a fatal motorist, pedestrian, or motorcyclist crash may receive an enhanced penalty of $1000 fine and license revocation, a bicyclist killed would only be a traffic ticket. This bill would correct the oversight in the Iowa Code. More information is at Standard Penalties in Fatal Traffic Crashes.
SF60 would require phones to be used in hands-free or voice-activated mode while driving. More information is available at www.drivesafeiowa.org.
These bills now move onto the Senate for debate by the full chamber.
The Iowa Bicycle Coalition and Drive Safe Iowa wants to thank the Senators involved in moving this bill forward and the advocates who pushed for its passage.
View the committee meeting:
