Iowa police soon may be able to stop you if they believe you are texting while driving.

This week, Gov. Terry Branstad is expected to sign a bill that would let police officers stop and ticket drivers who were texting while driving. The bill would take effect July 1.

Illinois enacted its texting-while-driving ban in 2010; in 2014, the state banned all handheld cellphone use while driving.

Despite similar laws in almost all states, the annual State Farm distracted-driving survey points to continued practice of the dangerous activity, with 35 percent reporting they text while driving. A Cambridge Mobile Telematics study estimates 35 to 38 percent of Iowa drivers text while driving, as do 38 to 40 percent of Illinois drivers.

“This is the eighth year, and we’re surprised that the numbers continue to be the same,” said Missy Dundov of State Farm. “We’re trying to find out how to change the numbers to make the roads safer.”

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