House panel OKs teen driving bill

Seventeen-year-old Cory Ellis says he is driving safer since spending two weeks in the hospital after he crashed in March while text messaging.

The Altoona teen suffered a broken femur, cut tendons in his fingers and lost all feeling in his left bicep when the seat belt stretched out his arm nerves.

A state House bill targeting teen drivers wants to apply the brakes to unsafe practices behind the wheel.

Ellis said he talks on his cell phone a little while driving now and says if he didn't have his phone, he would feel ''cut off from the world.''

The House Transportation Committee agreed to disconnect teens like Ellis, though, when they sent the measure to the full House for consideration Tuesday.

The proposed legislation includes prohibiting use of electronic devices such as cell phones while driving; adding additional hours of practical driving experience; and restricting the amount of teen passengers allowed in a car while another teen is driving, according to a press release from Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-Allegheny/Westmoreland, who introduced the bill and is the committee's chairman.

''I usually have two to three people in my car with me,'' Ellis said of the possible restriction. ''That would be awful.''

Currently, no restrictions on electronic device usage or number of passengers exist for teen drivers, and 50 hours of practical driving experience with a parent, guardian or spouse are required.

Sara Hatch, 17, of Altoona said she can see why such restrictions might become law. She said crashes like Ellis' and that of another area teen who died left their mark.

''It's definitely a good thing, but I can say I wouldn't be happy about it,'' she said of the law passing.

Brittany Williams, 17, also can see why the law might go into effect and why it would make driving less convenient.

The Altoona teen said she drives others to school and they often drive elsewhere after class. She said one driver carting others is easier and saves on gas.

''I can completely understand the cell phone thing,'' she said. ''Your focus isn't on driving when you're talking or texting.''

Mirror Staff Writer Amanda Clegg is at 949-7030.