Topeka ? Teens are safe for now to cruise around Kansas with a carload of friends. The Senate rejected a bill Wednesday to restrict how many people can ride with young drivers.

The 21-8 vote against giving the bill first-round approval drops it to the bottom of the debate calendar, and it is unlikely to be reconsidered.

“It appears to me that it’s dead for the session,” said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka. “It would have been a real intrusion into the lives of our young people.”

According to the bill, drivers aged 16 and 17 could have only one other minor passenger who is not a brother or sister unless they are going to school or school activities.

A 15-year-old who has a restricted license would be barred from transporting any friends or classmates. A restricted license allows driving to and from school and work.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia, said it would reduce injuries and fatalities among young drivers and save the state money in accident-related medical costs. He and other supporters believe young drivers in crowded cars are more easily distracted, making accidents more likely.

“This bill would save lives and save money,” Barnett said.

On a voice vote, the Senate adopted an amendment offered by Sen. Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, to allow three nonsibling passengers. He was concerned it would preclude double-dating.

Other senators did not like the bill even with Schmidt’s amendment, saying it legislated a matter in which parents should be responsible.

“There are so many good things government can do, but there are so many good things parents can do  this is one of them,” said Sen. Karin Brownlee, R-Olathe.

But another Olathe Republican said the bill would help parents.

“When I first saw this, I thought it was Big Daddy government coming in where it shouldn’t,” Sen. Kay O’Connor said.

But she also said, “This piece of legislation is going to be very good for parenting. It gives the parent another hammer or crowbar to get a 16- or 17-year-old to do something.”

But opponents agreed more with O’Connor’s initial assessment of the proposal.

“This is not for Topeka to mandate this discussion,” said Majority Leader Lana Oleen, R-Manhattan.

Hensley said legislators and parents will just have to trust teen-age drivers.

“We have to trust teen-agers when they get behind the wheel, but that’s true of everybody,” he said.