Last week, a new law was passed prohibiting the use of cell phones, whether hand-held or hands-free, by young drivers with provisional licenses while the vehicle is in motion.

We believe the law is a good one.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American teenagers. Add the distraction of a cell phone, and the likelihood of an accident goes up.

We’ve all read the stories of accidents with some very sad outcomes, due to people talking on cell phones and becoming distracted while driving. If this new law keeps one young person from getting in an accident, it will be worth it. Learning good cell phone practices while young means good cell phone practices as an adult.

Cell phones are valuable communication tools, and with teens out and about, a good way to keep in touch with parents. However, if they must be used in the car, they need to be used with care &045; preferably by pulling over and out of traffic.

There are certainly more measures our legislators can take to help protect young drivers, but we believe the new cell phone law is a good start.