Cell phone-addicted motorists in Maryland got a reprieve. They'll be able to continue driving and gabbing, while more responsible drivers on the road remain on hyper-alert, ready to dodge and swerve to avoid them when they misdial or, worse, reach for a dropped cell phone.

The House Environmental Matters Committee last week defeated a bill that would have outlawed the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Committee members who prefer to drive and talk should have recused themselves from the vote. The legislation might have had a chance because for the first time in years, it won approval in the Senate. At the very least, committee members should have restricted the use of text-messaging while driving.

Maryland is behind the times on this one: The District of Columbia and nearly 30 states have put some restrictions on use of a cell phone while driving.

Lawmakers who opposed the bill say they don't want to legislate responsible behavior. By that standard, drinking while driving would be legal with the understanding that responsible Marylanders would voluntarily abstain. Let's face it: Any observant driver knows just how serious a distraction and threat to public safety cell phones can be.