House File 770 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 770 BY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY (SUCCESSOR TO HF 89) A BILL FOR An Act relating to reasonable and prudent following distances 1 while a person is operating a motor vehicle, and making 2 penalties applicable. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1771HV (1) 91 th/ns

H.F. 770 Section 1. Section 321.307, Code 2025, is amended to read 1 as follows: 2 321.307 Following too closely. 3 1. The driver of A person operating a motor vehicle shall 4 not follow another vehicle in the same lane and direction of 5 travel more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due 6 regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and 7 the condition of the highway. For purposes of this subsection, 8 the distance at which a person is following is reasonable and 9 prudent under clear conditions then existing, as follows: 10 a. At least fifty feet on a highway with a speed limit of 11 thirty-five miles per hour or less. 12 b. At least one hundred feet on a highway with a speed 13 limit greater than thirty-five miles per hour but not more than 14 fifty-five miles per hour. 15 c. At least one hundred fifty feet on a highway with a speed 16 limit greater than fifty-five miles per hour but not more than 17 sixty-five miles per hour. 18 d. At least two hundred feet on a highway with a speed limit 19 greater than sixty-five miles per hour. 20 2. A person who violates this section commits a simple 21 misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation under section 22 805.8A, subsection 7, paragraph “c” . 23 EXPLANATION 24 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 25 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 26 Current law prohibits a driver of a motor vehicle from 27 following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and 28 prudent, considering the speed of such vehicles, other traffic 29 on the highway, and the condition of the highway. A violation 30 for following too closely is punishable by a scheduled fine of 31 $135. 32 This bill provides minimum distances considered reasonable 33 and prudent while a person is following another vehicle in 34 the same lane and direction of travel under clear conditions. 35 -1- LSB 1771HV (1) 91 th/ns 1/ 2

H.F. 770 The minimum reasonable distance increases in increments of 50 1 feet, from at least 50 feet to at least 200 feet, as the speed 2 limit on the highway increases from not more than 35 miles per 3 hour (MPH) to greater than 65 MPH. The scheduled fine for a 4 violation is not amended. 5 Pursuant to Code section 321.482A, if a person is convicted 6 for a violation of the bill and the violation causes a serious 7 injury, a court could impose an additional fine of $500 or 8 suspend the person’s driver’s license for not more than 90 9 days, or both. If a person is convicted for a violation of the 10 bill and the violation causes a death, a court could impose 11 an additional fine of $1,000 or suspend the person’s driver’s 12 license for not more than 180 days, or both. 13 -2- LSB 1771HV (1) 91 th/ns 2/ 2