Is It Illegal to Eat While Driving in Iowa?

We don't like to admit it, but we've all done it. Sometimes we're in a hurry. Sometimes that Big Mac is just too tempting. But we've all ate while driving at one time or another. Personally, it's not something I enjoy. I like to sit and watch TV or YouTube videos while I eat, so outside of sneaking a few fries from the bag, I generally try to avoid doing it.

Road trips on which I'm driving, however, are a different story. I find myself positioning my French fries between my legs, my chicken nuggets on the dash, and turning my Honda into a full-blown smorgasbord while the road serves as my entertainment.

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All that being said, it does beg the question: is eating while driving illegal in the state of Iowa? Conventional wisdom suggests it is. In my estimation, it would fall under the classification of "distracted driving," which is a hazard to you and everyone else on the road. However, you might be surprised to find this out...

There is no law against eating while driving in the state of Iowa. In fact, there's no law that prevents eating while driving in any of the 50 states. However, this could be seen less as an oversight by state lawmakers and more of a common sense initiative, as dangerous as those are, in general.

According to the website Tom Fowler Law, drivers must be attentive at all times and ensure that they've got their eyes on the road. Such is the duty of anyone who assumes the position behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

Tom Fowler Law also suggests that there is nothing stopping a police officer from pulling a person over who is seen eating behind the wheel if they deem the driver distracted:

A police officer may view eating while driving as an act of distracted driving. Iowa has distracted driving laws in place that every driver must follow to ensure that they're on the safe side of the law. - per Tom Fowler Law's website

Should you get pulled over and cited for eating while driving in the state of Iowa, that could lead to demerit points on your driver's license, which could lead to higher insurance rates.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 3,000 people die each year in the United States due to distracted driving. Such a number makes up around 8% of all fatal motor vehicle collisions in America. That in itself is something to consider.

Read more about the laws (or, in this case, lack thereof) against eating while driving in the state of Iowa on Tom Fowler Law's website.