A Michigan House panel unanimously approved a bill this week 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.

“The distraction of cell phones coupled with driver inexperience is a dangerous combination,” Law said in a written statement.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 14-0 Wednesday, Oct. 12, to allow police to pull over young drivers and impose a $50 fine using a cell 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, about 10 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.

Thomas’ effort would prohibit cell phone use while passing or driving in the left-hand lanes. Anyone found in violation would be fined $50.

The bill – SB737 – is in the Senate Transportation Committee.

The young driver bill – HB5133 – has been sent to the full House for further consideration.