LITTLE ROCK, Ark. State lawmakers here, like their counterparts elsewhere in the U.S., are putting the kibosh on driver distractions.

Gov. Mike Beebe signed into law two driver distraction bills, including one that bans text messaging while driving for all drivers.

The other new law targets cell phone use by the states youngest drivers. The legislation prohibits drivers under 18 from the use of any mobile device while behind the wheel.

Exceptions would be made for emergency calls. CB radios are exempted.

Efforts to curb the practice of using electronic wireless devices, such as BlackBerry-type devices, while driving have picked up steam across the country following the National Safety Councils call for all states to ban drivers from all cell phone usage.

Currently, more than a dozen states forbid young drivers to use phones while behind the wheel. California, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Washington are the only states that have bans on all drivers using hand-held phones. With the exception of New York, each of these states also prohibits text messaging.

Alaska, Louisiana and Minnesota have their own text-messaging bans.

The Arkansas House approved another bill that would put in place further restriction on teen drivers. By a vote of 58-35, lawmakers voted to send a bill back to the Senate for approval of changes that would strengthen the states graduated drivers license system.

The bill would prohibit drivers under 18 from carrying more than one minor passenger. Exceptions would be made for relatives or if there is a licensed adult in the front passenger seat.

The bill also would prohibit young drivers from driving between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., except when driving to and from work, for school functions or for emergencies.