Fear not, chatty drivers. You can keep talking on your cellular phones.

The House Commerce and Government Matters Committee killed a bill yesterday that would have banned drivers in Maryland from using their phones while driving.

The measure drew support from only two of the committee's 23 members -- Del. John S. Arnick, the Baltimore County Democrat who sponsored the bill, and Del. Adrienne A. Mandel, a Montgomery County Democrat.

Arnick said he proposed the bill because of the dangers of distraction and of having one hand busy with a phone rather than the steering wheel.

Industry officials argued the phones actually promote safety by allowing motorists to call for help.

Maryland State Police, who do not track the connection between cell phones and accidents, report that distractions in general -- from phone use to changing compact discs -- contribute to more accidents than any other factor, accounting for 296 fatal wrecks in 1997.

Pub Date: 3/05/99