Add Distracted Driving To Driver Education

Explanation:

This would add the topic of distracted driving to the driver education curriculum.  Currently, students are required to have four hours of instruction about substance abuse.  This language would replace “substance abuse” with “substance abuse and distracted driving”.  

The Need:

Five percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes. Eight percent of drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of the fatal crashes.

Students are currently required by statute to have:

  • Four hours of instruction concerning substance abuse.
  • Twenty minutes of instruction concerning railroad crossing safety.
  • Instruction relating to becoming an organ donor 
  • Instruction providing awareness about sharing the road with bicycles and motorcycles. 

This language would add the topic to the core curriculum, but the time would be shared with substance abuse and not add additional time to the student curriculum.  

Current Bills:

Language:

§321.178 Driver education
(1) A minimum of four hours of instruction concerning substance abuse and distracted driving.

Other Legislation:

We have grouped our bills by subject because multiple bills may address the same topic. Learn more on each topic at:

Or return to our legislative page: http://iowabicyclecoalition.org/policy-and-legislation/