Va. Bill Would Bar Cell Phone Use by Teen Drivers

"When I drive, I think I'm perfectly safe because I pay attention," Drewer said. "Even if they did do it, I wouldn't think it would work because a lot of kids wouldn't listen to the law."

Meredith Epstein, 17, a senior at Westfield High School in Chantilly, said the bill makes sense to her. Epstein carries a cell phone, but if it rings in the car, she lets her voice mail take the call and then returns it later.

"My mom said, 'You're a new driver, and it will distract you from what's in front of you,' " Epstein said. "I guess it would be a good law because it would probably stop people from getting into accidents."

Besides the cell phone ban, Mims and O'Brien would also like to elevate violations of Virginia's teenage driving laws from secondary to primary offenses.

That would mean police officers could pull young people over for violating those laws, rather than ticketing them only if they were stopped on suspicion of breaking other laws, such as speeding.

Mims said it might be tricky in some cases for police officers to guess the age of drivers, but in certain instances, such as cars pulling out of high school parking lots, it may be obvious.

Maryland does not restrict the number of passengers teenagers can have in a car, but the recent spate of accidents has moved legislators there to consider tightening rules, too. Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) has introduced a package of new restrictions, and a bill sponsored by two senators from Montgomery County would also restrict cell phone use.

Since the beginning of the school year, at least 18 teenagers have been killed in local traffic accidents.

If the Virginia bill, SB 784, is passed by the full Senate, it would still need approval in the House of Delegates. Del. Leo C. Wardrup Jr. (R-Virginia Beach), chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said it will likely come before his panel and promised a "full and fair hearing."

Glod reported from Northern Virginia.