Mason City, IA- Iowa teens may soon have to give up their cell phones while driving.
A proposed law will also keep all drivers from using their phones to text.
State lawmakers are working to crack down on driving distractions caused by phones. Under the proposed law no one in Iowa can send or receive texts while driving, but people under the age of 18 say the law is too strict.
17-year-old Ben Lipp of Manly, IA says he sends about 100 text messages a day, some while driving. He says he's not alone.
"I think you'd have a harder time finding someone who doesn't text and drive than someone who does," he said.
He understands why Iowa lawmakers want to crack down on the practice.
"I've been with people texting, and they wind up on the wrong side of the road driving and so it some people can get pretty distracted by it," said Lipp.
Nathan Peterson works for Plagge Trucking. He sees a lot of people using cell phones on the road.
"Going down the interstate in a truck you can see right into the cars all day long everybody's texting or either on the phone talking."
The legislation will likely include an exemption for truck drivers and emergency vehicles. Peterson says his company relies on cell phones for communication but discourages texting.
"I've done it myself driving everybody does, you get a text somebody's trying to ask you something you'll look at it you look back up and you're all over the road, it's not safe," said Peterson.
The National Highway Safety Administration estimates about two thirds of all crashes in US are caused by distracted drivers.
Sheriff Kevin Pals says the problem is even worse among younger drivers
"We know that once your eyes leave that road it only takes a fraction of a second for an accident to happen," Pals said.
While he understands the dangers of texting, Lipp says taking cell phones away from teen drivers completely is too much.
"I talk on my phone all the time while I’m driving, I think taking that’s pushing it a bit," he said.
Pals says legislators are concerned about where the law will go from here.
"Now if we're gonna limit your phoning or texting or some other electronic device then is the next step you can't eat in your car you can't have an open soda in your car, I mean that's gonna be the next level," he said.
If the bill is passed, police could not pull anyone over who they suspect is text messaging, the driver would have to break a different law first.
Lawmakers will delay enforcement of the measure for one year while officials launch a state education program, similar to mandated seat belt use.
House Speaker Pat Murphy says the latest version of the bill should get swift approval.
Minnesota law already bans texting while driving.
