It will soon be an offence to ride or drive while using a cell phone and it could cost the offender $500 in fines.

Legislation banning the use of cell phones, iPods and other hand-held devices while driving was passed in the House of Assembly yesterday.

The Traffic Offences Procedure Act 1974 Specified Penalties Amendment Notice also forbids people under the age of 18 from riding an auxiliary cycle with a passenger, ride between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., bans the use of TV monitors in cars and increases the fine for having tinted windows.

Premier and Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said the offences will be "ticketable", meaning Police officers can issue tickets on the spot to offenders.

In the House yesterday, Dr. Brown said a study at the University of Utah showed cell phone usage while driving was as dangerous as driving drunk.

"The study, which was a simulated study, showed that cellphone using drivers have a slower reaction time. They took nine percent longer to hit the brakes and were 19 percent slower to resume a normal driving speed after brake application.

"They also showed 24 percent more variation in the distance at which they followed other vehicles. These impaired reaction times make drivers who are talking on the phone more likely to get into an accident.

"Three people in the study actually rear-ended the pace car they were supposed to be following in driving simulations."

He also said banning cell phones and other devices would "increase driver attention and decrease road traffic accidents."

Opposition Leader Kim Swan supported the legislation and said: "Inattention is an important item to discuss. The one area in road safety that we need to pay more attention to is the drunk driving, particularly on the weekend periods.

"There is legislation on our books that we need to pay attention to to make sure that we're doing more to deal with some of the problems that are really causing the deaths and accidents."

Bermuda Democratic Alliance MP Mark Pettingillsaid: "We have to be in full support of any and all measures which are taken in addressing the problem we have with driving and fatalities on our roads. Despite the fact that we have the headlines and great debates with increases violent crimes and murders, it's still the leading cause of death in young people, road accidents.

"If one looks at the statistic in regards to fatalities, 90 percent of the time they will take place a night and toxicology reports will say that the victim or the people with them have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol. I think this is a why we can proceed in going forward."

Government backbencher Randy Horton said: "Text messaging and driving is dangerous on the roads and there are statistics in the US that have indicated just that. If one is driving at the speed limit in Bermuda and texting, they are not in control."

Opposition MP John Barritt said driving while using a cell phone was already covered under the offence of driving without due care.

But he said the legislation before the House sent out a clear message.

"People can get arrested (now) for using their cell phones and causing an accident," he said.

"I think what we're doing today is saying that using a cell phone is not something we can encourage on Bermuda's roads. It's clearly not something that I think is acceptable."