Bill to ban handheld cellphone use fails at Utah House

A proposal to ban almost all hand-held cellphone use while driving has failed the Utah House.

The Monday vote came after lawmakers said they were worried it would be too harsh on drivers without making a large enough difference in safety.

Supporters of the bill sponsored by Democratic Rep. Carol Spackman Moss say using a cellphone while driving is dangerous and it’s important to curb it as people become increasingly dependent on phones. The vote was 41 to 32.

The bill would have outlawed any hand-held cellphone use while driving, even for navigation or voice communication. It would allow a single swipe or tap on a device mounted so the driver can see the road.

Texting while driving is already illegal in Utah.