Starting July 1, 2009 you’ll have to be 18 years or older to legally talk or text on a cell phone while driving in Indiana.

That’s just one example of the rule changes in store for teen drivers thanks to recent action by the Indiana General Assembly.

The author of Senate Bill 16 is Republican Sen. Travis Holdman from Markle. He says he had 153-compelling reasons to seek change—that’s how many traffic fatalities were attributed to teen driving accidents in Indiana in 2007.

Holdman says that 60-percent of the times, the teen drivers died. 40-percent of the time it was someone else.

“The cell phone, the texting, are prohibited until they’re 18,” said Markle. “99.9 percent of parents are saying thank you; we will make sure our child obeys the law.”

Some suggest that parents might have more of an impact on enforcement, than police.

“I’ve talked to police officers and they say how am I going to tell if they're text messaging or not,” said William Wagner of Frick’s Driving School in Mishawaka. “Secondly, do I know if a girl is 17 or 18, is this young man 16, or 19. I have to pull them over to ask their age?”

Generally speaking, the changes represent an attempt to legislate something that doesn’t come naturally for teens.

“Maturity and experience are the two key components to reduced teen crashes and teen fatalities,” said Rep. Holdman.

In the future, Indiana teen drivers will have to have more of both.

For instance: Maturity.

Lawmakers increased the minimum age for getting a learner’s permit from 15 years old today, to 15 and a half years old starting in July of 2010.

The age for obtaining a probationary license for teens that have completed driver’s education will be increased from 16 years one month today, to 16 years six months in 2010.

The minimum age for obtaining a probationary license for teens that have not completed driver’s education will rise from 16 years six months now, to age 17 in 2010.

As for experience, the law now requires teens to spend a minimum of two months driving on a learner’s permit. The new law increases that figure to six months.

Starting in 2010, the state will also start requiring that teens have 50-hours of driving practice—to be supervised by a licensed driver age 25 and over (presumably a parent).

“These kids are the most precious thing we have,” said Wagner, “Therefore they're going to get extra driving time, I don't see a problem. Michigan does it right now, 50-hours on the books, and because of their program teenage deaths have dropped 25 percent.”

The bill is awaiting the signature of the governor.