Iowa is on pace to report its lowest traffic death count since 2020, according to new state data.
Why it matters: The data suggests that recent safety efforts — and possibly increased awareness — could be paying off, Larry Grant, a safety planner for the Iowa Strategic Highway Safety Plan, told Axios.
State of play: Iowa this year became the 30th state to ban the use of most handheld devices while driving.
- The law went into effect on July 1 and warnings are now being issued to violators until citations begin in January.
Reality check: Increased public awareness could be helping the decline after years of legislative debate leading up to its passage this year, but it’s too soon to attribute it to the new law, Grant said…