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JEFFERSON CITY, MO. -- A Missouri Senate committee has approved legislation that bars all drivers from texting while driving.

Currently, only drivers 21 years old and younger are prohibited from sending cell phone text messages while driving.

But the Missouri State Highway Patrol says it is hard to tell how old a driver is if an officer sees them texting.

In Sept. 2010 an insurance industry group, The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found laws that banned texting while driving didn't reduce wrecks and might actually have increased risks.

Even though the study found the ban didn't reduce wrecks the highway patrol said the study released was just one study.

"While there has been one study that has been conducted," said Lt. Larry Plunkett. "I expect there will be several additional studies coming out int he years to come. In the state of Missouri most of our accidents are related to inattention and speed, and I doubt that anybody can argue that texting while driving won't contribute to inattention."

Also in Sept. 2010, the Missouri State Highway Patrol initiated their Anti-Texting Campaign.

The Senate Transportation Committee also voted Wednesday to repeal the state law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets. However, people 21 years old or younger would still need to wear a helmet.

The committee also considered whether to raise the state fine for not wearing a seatbelt from $10 to $50. That would be the third highest fine in the nation for not wearing a seatbelt. The committee did not vote on that bill.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story)