Eastern Iowa Truck Driver says more needs to be done about distracted driving following close call

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – An Jap Iowa truck driver stated extra must be completed in the case of distracted driving after he practically ran off the street final Friday.

Richard Radloff hauls liquid grain for Simon Trucking out of Fairley. He gave TV9 a video that reveals a driver veering into his lane on a rural roadway. Radloff needed to drive over the middle line to keep away from the driving force.

“I noticed nobody behind me, and thank god there was nobody behind him so I ended up switching lanes,” he stated. “The video lasted solely about 11 seconds, so I had little or no time to react.”

Radloff stated he couldn’t inform if the particular person was utilizing a cellphone, however stated it was quite common to come across a distracted driver on the roadways.

“About each 5 vehicles go by, at the least certainly one of them is on the cellphone,” stated Radloff.

Texting whereas driving is already unlawful within the state of Iowa, however drivers can use GPS and reply cellphone calls whereas driving. The “hands-free driving” invoice would make it unlawful to function a cellphone along with your fingers whereas behind the wheel.

“Your cellphone would should be hands-free or voice-activated. You may’t look or see the cellphone activate any longer,” stated Matt Wyatt, a spokesperson for Driver Protected Iowa.

Drive Protected Iowa is an advocacy group that focuses on visitors security. In accordance with the U.S. Transportation Division, 9 folks die daily as a consequence of distracted driving. Iowa DOT reviews 11 folks died from distracted driving in 2021.

“I’ve labored as a paramedic a very long time, 30 years,” stated Wyatt. “I’ve seen the sort of carnage and trauma crashes could cause, and I received’t that kind of factor to cease.”

Radloff stated he was shaken by this shut name that he needed to pull over. He stated he watched the opposite driver pull again into the proper lane like nothing ever occurred.

“That’s the very last thing anyone desires to do is kill any individual,” stated Radloff. “

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