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WEBVTT IT ALL THE TIME 24;04> Cellphone use behind the wheel is ubiquitous -- and stats posted on Facebook by the Iowa State Patrol Friday shed some light on the consequences. Not only do they say phones are involved in more than 1 and a half million crashes per year nationwide... killing three to six thousand people... Nearly a quarter of all car crashes involve a phone. Does that surprise the drivers we talked to along I-35? <00;14 NO. NOT AT ALL. 00;16> <32;10 I CAN REALLY BELIEVE THAT. 32;11> And just reaching for a phone...can increase the chances of a wreck by 40 percent. <32;38 I TIME MYSELF, THE PHONE IS RINGING THERE ON THE SEAT, AND IF I LOOK DOWN AND HOW MUCH I LOST OF WHERE I WAS GOING. 32;49> This one might have been the most surprising... Virginia Tech determined that a texting driver is six times more likely to crash than a drunk one. <33;12 REALLY? THAT IS AMAZING 33;16> The stats say nearly a third of drivers aged 18 to 64 text while driving. Perhaps more of us will admit to texting at a red light. Well, troopers say despite what people think -- that is NOT legal under Iowa's texting law. It can get you a 100- dollar ticket just like if the car's moving. You have to be stopped -- and OUT of traffic. <20;37 MY WIFE IS ALWAYS TELLING THE KIDS WHENEVER SHE SEES SOMEONE ELSE ON THE ROAD USING THEIR CELLPHONE, SHE POINTS IT OUT TO THE KIDS 20;45> <27;28 I ALWAYS SAY DON'T TEXT...NOTHING' S THAT IMPORTANT. 27;34>

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Iowa State Patrol troopers are sharing some alarming statistics about distracted driving -- specifically, cellphone use behind the wheel.They're still dealing with misconceptions about what's OK behind the wheel under Iowa law. Cellphone use behind the wheel is ubiquitous. Statistics posted on Facebook by the Iowa State Patrol on Friday shed some light on the consequences.They say phones are involved in more than 1.5 million crashes per year nationwide, killing 3,000 to 6,000 people. Nearly a quarter of all car crashes involve a phone.That does surprise drivers along Interstate 35. “No, not at all,” said Bruce Grier, of Ames. “I can really believe that,” said Karen Belville, of St. Joseph, Missouri. Just reaching for a phone can increase the chances of a wreck by 40 percent.“I time myself,” Belville said. “The phone is ringing there on the seat, and if I look down and how much I lost of where I was going,” Belville said. RELATED: State Patrol says number of citations for texting while driving skyrocketsDistracted driving fuels dangerous trend on Iowa roadsTrooper: Texting driver hits parked Iowa State Patrol carThe Virginia Tech Transportation Institute determined that a texting driver is six times more likely to crash than an intoxicated driver. “That is amazing,” Belville said. Nearly one-third of drivers aged 18 to 64 text while driving, according to a survey from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Troopers said, despite what people think, it is not legal to text while stopped at a red light under Iowa law.Offenders can receive a $100 ticket, just like if the car is moving. You have to be stopped and out of traffic in order to avoid a fine.“My wife is always telling the kids whenever she sees someone else on the road using their cellphone,” said Steve Tjepkes, of Atlantic. “I always say, ‘Don’t text. Nothing is that important,’” said Julie Tjepkes, of Atlantic.KCCI recently reported that troopers said increased cellphone use is behind an increase of crashes in Iowa.