Texas Legislature could ban cell phone usage in school zones
April 28th, 2009
KVUE-TV, Austin
Only one law is on the books in Texas that bans cell phone usage while driving. It prevents teenagers from talking and driving during their first six months behind the wheel.
But several bills have been presented during this legislative session — including one that would ban hand-held cell phone usage for everyone in a school zone.
No matter what school district you live in, you’ve probably seen drivers of all ages on their cell phones in school zones and some close calls that are directly attributable to that talk-and-drive distraction.
“Right here on this crosswalk yeah, absolutely,” said Jeff Barnett.
Barnett and his children, Shawn and Alicia, live next door to the crosswalk that connects them to Blackland Prairie Elementary in Round Rock.
“The parent was on the cell phone and just flat out didn’t see the kid, and it was a close call,” Barnett recalled.
A driving force to ban hand-held cell phone use in school zones is Representative Jose Menendez of San Antonio. While there is no specific data regarding school zone accidents caused by distracted drivers on cell phones, figures from the Texas Department of Transportation show that over the last two years there have been more than 6,500 crashes resulting from drivers being distracted while using their cell phones. Fifty-nine of those crashes have been fatal.
“All the studies show that while you’re maintaining a conversation and you’re driving it reduces your reaction time to about the same time as someone who’s under the influence of alcohol,” Menendez said.
Menendez points out if there are laws on the books that make it illegal to drink and drive, then…
“Why should we allow people who are doing a very similar dangerous behavior especially in a school zone?” he asked.
Most parents who spoke with KVUE News support a state law that would ban hand-held cell phones in school zones.
“We see how people are distracted on their cell phones, they’re weaving all over the road, they’re going slow or they’re going fast and it doesn’t stop just because they’ve entered a school zone,” said Leslie Abbott, the parent of two children who attend Barton Creek Elementary.
At Barton Creek Elementary in Travis County — like other Eanes ISD schools — signs are posted near the pick up lines, reminding parents to hang up when they pick up their kids. While most comply, others were on the phone when they pulled up and remained on the phone, even with our cameras clearly rolling.
“I think we all work under the assumption that we can multi task and that we can do it successfully when the reality is it’s a very dangerous situation for the children,” said Barton Creek Elementary school teacher Tammy Campbell. Campbell is one of the teachers assigned to pick up and drop off duty.
“There isn’t anyone that can convince me that you can do a good job of paying attention to everything around you and the children while thinking of hanging up, texting, listening to a message, it’s very hard to do two things at one time,” Campbell said.
Some may argue against a state law banning hand held cell phone usage in school zones simply because there are so many other things that drivers do which are distractions that are not against the law: Such as changing the radio station, eating, putting on makeup or even reading.
Representative Menendez doesn’t argue a driver can encounter other numerous distractions, but he says the intent of the law, just like the seat belt law enacted decades ago, would be to change the mindset of drivers.
“I think instead of trying to do what government normally does and reacts to a tragedy I’d say why not try to be proactive instead of reactive,” he said.
For those not willing to put down the phone in school zones, Campbell has just one question.
“Is the conversation that you’re having or the text that you are texting or the message that you are listening to, is that more important than the safety of the children in the school,” she asked.
The various cell phone bills, including the school zone ban have been combined into House Bill 55.