New Push To Ban Hand-Held Cell Phones While Driving In Mass.
BOSTON (CBS) – There's a new push to ban hand-held cell phones while driving in Massachusetts.
The Joint Transportation Committee unanimously approved the latest version of the bill Thursday.
Read: Keller @ Large: It's Time To Ban Cell Phones While Driving
It's not clear yet when the measure will go the floor for debate.
A ban has twice passed in the House, but the Senate rejected it in 2010.
This bill would allow people to use only hands-free phones while driving.
State Senator Thomas McGee, a Democrat from Lynn, is co-chair of the Committee on Transportation.
He thinks the time is right for the bill.
"The technology is really changing. I think it's important that we have the discussion and we'll see where the Senate goes. I can't speak for my colleagues, but I know there was support in the Senate, it was a close vote and I think the committee felt it was an important step to move the bill forward," he told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Friday.
Nine other states already ban hand-held cell phone use while driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.
The National Transportation Safety Board recently recommended a total ban on hand-held cell phone use in cars in the United States.