PORTLAND - Oregon drivers under the age of 18 risk a $97 fine if they're ticketed under a new law banning the use of cell phones in the car.

The new law goes into effect Janurary 1.

State Police say the law will help inexperienced drivers stay focused on the road.

"The studies have proven when you talk on a cell phone, you are distracted," said Oregon State Police Sgt. Daniel Swift. "So this is one less thing to distract a young driver with, and I think this will keep the roads safer."

Research shows that traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for teen drivers. Another study showed 90 percent of teenage drivers say they use their cell phones while behind the wheel.

Teens who spoke with KGW say there's an epidemic of talking and driving.

"There's a lot of kids at my school, I hear them talking about it, 'Yeah I had a coffee in one hand, I was texting with the other and I was driving with my knee," said Betsy Norton.

But Norton gave voice to another opinion common among teenagers, that if cell phones in cars are so dangerous then everyone should be banned. Betsy's mom said she agreed, sort of.

"That's a tough one because I do (use my cell phone in the car), and I feel like I have a little more experience, and I know when to turn it off, " said Cheryl Norton.

The cell phone ban for teens is a secondary offense, meaning police need another reason to pull over the driver.

Washington passed a cell phone ban for all drivers. Text messaging will be illegal starting January 1, with the cell phone ban starting July 1.