ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- In an effort to make area roads more safe and secure, the Maryland House of Delegates Thursday passed five bills putting restrictions on teenage drivers.

In past years the House of Delegates defeated attempts to restrict teen driving. This is the first time the Maryland House and Senate are moving in the same direction on the issue.

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New Bills Target Teen Drivers

The five bills passed Thursday are:

HB 393 -- Teen Passenger Restriction
After completing the learner's instructional phase, a newly licensed provisional driver under the age of 18 will not be allowed to transport a non-family teen passenger during the first five months of the 18-month provisional period.

HB 394 -- Cell Phone Restriction During Learner's And Provisional License Period
No cell phone use while driving by teens under age 18 who have a learner's permit or provisional license, except to make 911 emergency calls.

HB 395 -- Increase Supervised Driving Time During Learner's Permit Phase
Increase the number of required hours of parent- or adult guardian-supervised driving during the learner's instructional phase from the current 40 hours to 60 hours, including 10 hours of required nighttime driving.

HB 242 -- Lengthen Learner's Permit Period
Extend the learner's permit period from four months to five months.

HB 244 -- Seat Belt Or Midnight Curfew Violations
The 18-month provisional license clock starts over if the provisional driver is found in violation of the midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew, or the state's seat belt law.

Two of the new bills passed Thursday by the Maryland House of Delegates (HB 242 and HB 244) were proposed by Gov. Robert Ehrlich.

The other three were sponsored by Democratic Montgomery County delegates Bill Bronrott (HB 393, HB 394 and HB 395), and Adrienne Mandel (HB 393).

Ehrlich said that when the House and Senate bills are reconciled, he plans to sign the teen driving restrictions into law.