I never heard of anything so ridiculous as just barring teenage drivers from using any "electronic device" while driving.
The rationale, according to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who signed such a bill into law on Friday, is that "teenagers are more easily distracted."
More easily distracted than whom? A mother fighting with her teenage daughter while mom is driving? A husband fighting with his wife over cellular? An employee being told don't bother to come back to the office, you've been laid off anyway?
From what I've seen as a pedestrian and as a driver cell phones are a distraction to just about any human being and should be banned from use, even with headsets, while driving period.
Actually, there are some studies on the topic. Here's an excerpt and a link.
"Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have tested the hands-free approach and found that drivers – young and old – struggled to see dangerous scenarios appearing in front of them."
It is ridiculous on another level as well. By picking out one particular age group a precedent is being set that could have repercussions down the rode.
Why not ban anyone over 65-years-old because that group may have more difficulty multi-tasking? I'm sure there is some study out there that proves it.
Next, let's ban any driver with a baby in a car seat because it is likely that the baby at some point will start crying and it is definitely harder to drive, talk on the cell phone and try and keep baby quiet simultaneously.
Actually, the entire cockpit of a car, by the way isn't a car nowadays also an electronic device, is filled with distractions from GPS screens and multi-change CD drives, to iPhone ports and climate control.
I'm sure the politicians will say barring teens is a first step and that it is better than nothing.
Well, what is the next step, legislation to ban 20 somethings from cell phone use in a car because they are busy planning the next party, followed by thirty-somethings who trying to figure out what they want to do for the rest of their lives, followed by...well you get the point.