The Michigan House has approved a bill intended to cut cell phone use by young drivers.
Sponsored by Rep. David Law, R-Commerce Township, the measure would prohibit drivers under age 18 from talking on cell phones while behind the wheel.
“New drivers need to have their full attention on the road and this is one major distraction that we in the Legislature can limit "Law said in a written statement.
House lawmakers voted 78-27 to allow police to pull over young drivers and impose a $50 fine for chatting on the phone while driving. The bill exempts emergency phone calls.
Law’s bill originally banned hand-held devices only, but it was revised to prohibit all interactive wireless communication devices, including “hands-free” devices.
The effort comes on the heels of a National Transportation Safety Board report released this summer that recommended novice drivers be prohibited from using cell phones while on the road.
The safety board says that young drivers account for only 7 percent of the driving population but are involved in 15 percent of fatal accidents. Distracted drivers take 1.5 seconds longer to respond to hazards, the agency says.
“Learning how to drive and getting comfortable in traffic requires all the concentration a novice driver can muster,” NTSB Chairwoman Ellen Engleman said in a recent statement. “Adding a distracting element like a cell phone is placing too many demands on a young driver’s skills.”
Currently, 11 states forbid young drivers to use phones while behind the wheel. Only Connecticut, New York and New Jersey have bans on all drivers from using hand-held phones.
A bill offered by Sen. Buzz Thomas, D-Detroit, would add Michigan to that short list.
“There are bad drivers in all age groups. There are distracted drivers in all age groups,” Thomas told The Associated Press. “Cell phone use for everybody should be curtailed.”
Thomas’ effort would prohibit cell phone use while passing or driving in the fast lane or while passing another car. Anyone found in violation would be fined $50.
In addition to prohibiting young drivers from using a cell phone while behind the wheel, a separate effort also would add a point to a person’s driving record if the driver’s cell phone contributes to a traffic violation. Sponsored by Sen. Bruce Patterson, R-Canton, the bill – SB814 – is in the Senate Technology and Energy Committee.
Thomas’ bill – SB737 – also is in the Senate Technology and Energy Committee. It previously advanced from the Senate Transportation Committee.
The young driver bill – HB5133 – has moved to the Senate for further consideration.
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