The video-on-wheels craze has led the New York Senate to approve a measure intended to curb viewing while driving.

Senate lawmakers approved a measure earlier this month that would forbid drivers from watching videos while behind the wheel. It now heads to the Assembly for consideration.

State law already prohibits drivers from watching any device that receives a television broadcast, if it’s located in front of the back of the driver’s seat – regardless of whether the device interferes with safe driving.

The new measure, S6482, co-sponsored by Sen. Steve Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, would amend the law to prohibit satellite video entertainment broadcasts, VCR or DVD transmissions or replays, or any other similar video entertainment presentations located within the driver’s view.

“While it’s a great convenience for many people to have video players in their vehicles we need to be certain that drivers are not distracted,” Saland said in a written statement. “We have seen awareness increase about the danger of cell phone use while driving. Similarly, this legislation would make certain that the use of video players in cars is not done at the expense of safety.”

The bill would provide an exception for global positioning and navigational display systems. The provision would require the equipment to be disabled while the vehicle is in motion.

On-the-go viewing is exploding in popularity nationwide as parents of young children and video game-wielding teens join young adults outfitting their ultimate party cars in swell the demand for in-car screens.

Those $1,000-$2,000 slim LCD monitors that fold down from an overhead console, pop up from a floor console or are embedded in a seat back have become one of the hottest options in the automotive world – whether factory equipped or installed later.

Aftermarket sales of overhead video consoles are expected to reach 112,000 this year, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.