HARRISBURG -- The state House has approved legislation that makes major changes in rules governing drivers 17 and under, including prohibiting them from talking on cell phones or texting while driving.

The bill, which passed the House yesterday and now goes to the Senate, would also restrict -- to one -- the number of under-18 passengers (other than family members) that a 16- or 17-year-old driver may have in a car at one time.

The idea is to lessen distractions in cars driven by "junior drivers" and thus avoid accidents, said Rep. Joseph F. Markosek, D-Monroeville, chairman of the House Transportation Committee. If the passengers are siblings of the 16- or 17-year-old driver who live in the same house, there can be more than one such passenger in the car.

This part of the bill is called "Lacey's Law," in honor and memory of Lacey Gallagher, a Philadelphia teen who died in a car accident blamed on driver distractions when she was a passenger several years ago.

"Anytime we're dealing with changing behavior, it's not easy to reach a consensus, but we did this time," said Mr. Markosek.

Rep. Rick Geist, R-Altoona, said, "It's a good piece of legislation. I think you'll see a reduction in the number of deaths of teenagers."

The automobile group AAA East Central strongly supported the limits on the number of under-18 passengers when a young driver is behind the wheel.

In a recent 10-year period, motor vehicle accidents involving a junior driver in Pennsylvania killed 1,076 people of all ages, said AAA spokesman Brian Newbacher, adding, "Pennsylvania is the only state in the region without a passenger limit for new teen drivers."

The bill also prohibits junior drivers from using "interactive wireless communications devices," such as a cell phone, text messaging device, a personal digital assistant or a laptop computer, while behind the wheel. An exception is allowed for calls to 911 to report an emergency.

This measure, House Bill 67, is the one the House tried to amend last week to ban the use of hand-held cell phones and texting devices for all drivers, regardless of age. That move narrowly failed.

"As time goes by and more of these [wireless] devices proliferate, maybe these kinds of restrictions will be put into place for all drivers," Mr. Markosek said.

While not prohibiting drivers 18 and older from talking on cell phones, the House did amend the bill to insert a provision on driver distractions of various sorts.

It says that a police officer can stop a car he sees weaving along a road, going through a stop sign or heading in any other unsafe manner. If the driver was being erratic because he was distracted by eating or drinking, using a personal grooming device, reading a book or newspaper, or talking on a cell phone or texting, an additional $50 fine can be levied. But the officer couldn't stop a car just because he saw a driver chatting on a cell phone.

However, "Insurers are precluded from increasing the auto insurance policy premium of any person convicted of distracted driving," the bill states.

The bill also increases, to 65 hours from the current 50, the number of hours of "practical driving experience" that are required before a minor can apply for a junior driver's license. Also, 10 of those hours must be spent driving after dark and five hours must be during bad weather.

The bill makes wearing a seat belt for a driver or passenger who is under age 18 a "primary enforcement issue," meaning police officers can stop a car if they see someone in the car not wearing a seat belt and give the person a ticket. For drivers and passengers over 18, not wearing a belt remains a secondary offense, meaning a person can be cited only if an officer stops a car for another reason, such as speeding, and sees someone without a seat belt.

The bill says a junior driver convicted of going at least 26 miles an hour over the posted speed limit will get a suspension of 90 to 120 days, depending on whether it's a first offense.

The House-passed bill also requires PennDOT to compile an annual report on how many times cell phones were involved in vehicle accidents.