LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would ban drivers under the age of 18 from using their cell phones while driving, with the exception of emergencies.
The bill sponsor, Democratic Rep. Mari Mangooian of Birmingham said there needs to be a more "serious push to ban distracted driving" as it leads to thousands of crashes every year, the Associated Press reported.
“While I’d like to see more legislation that would go further to extend to everybody, this is a great first step to make sure that our newest drivers are keeping their hands on the wheel and off of their phones," Mangooian said.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she supports.
"We don’t just need better roads, we need safer roads. This bill will help us put an end to distracted driving, protect our kids, and ensure the safety of Michigan drivers," she said in a press release.
However, the Transportation Improvement Association said in a press release that this bill won't be enforceable because police officers aren't able to tell the ages of drivers on the roads.
They propose instead, to focus on Senate Bill 288, which requires all drivers to use hands-free technology or a single swipe or tap if they want to use their phones. They said this bill is the "best [one] to move toward ending distracted driving."
The association said the best course of action to combat phone-usage while driving is to couple Senate Bill 288 with the newly proposed distracted driving bill.
It was passed with strong bipartisan support by the House, according to the state's press release.
The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.
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