Road signs in one US state are using Taylor Swift lyrics to dissuade drivers from using their mobile phones.

The state of Iowa has overhead signs which read: "Old Taylor can't come to the phone right now... she's driving."

This is reference to a lyric from the singer's new song, 'Look What You Made Me Do'.

In the song, Swift reads out a message to listeners: "I'm sorry, the old Taylor can't come to the phone right now.. Why? 'Cos she's dead."

Image via @iowadot on Twitter

The Iowa Department of Transportation says: "In Iowa, using your phone to do anything but talk or navigate is illegal. But that doesn't mean those “legal” uses are safe.

"There are three types of distractions behind the wheel: visual: taking your eyes off the road; manual: taking your hands off the wheel; and cognitive: taking your mind off the road.

"Anything that takes one or more of these functions away from the task of driving can end in disaster."

"Taylor Swift’s recent hit 'Look What You Made Me Do' was the inspiration for today’s message". it adds.

The department says 246 people have died on its roads so far this year.