Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Tri-State area

DES MOINES, IOWA (AP) -- Iowa lawmakers are looking at more plans to keep young drivers safe on the roads.

Lawmakers have already proposed restricting young drivers from using cell phones while behind the wheel. Another idea is no passengers if no parents or guardians are in the car.

According to the Department of Transportation, young drivers rarely have accidents when parents or guardians are in the car. But when they're on their own, the crash rate increases by 700 percent.

Teenagers can get a restricted, or intermediate, license at 16 and are eligible for a full license if they are accident- and violation-free for a year.

Intermediate licenses already prohibit youths from driving between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian or traveling to or from a school or work function.

(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)