Cell Phone Use Summary

Research Project # SML: 0909-34 Project Title: Compliance With Cell Phone Restrictions In Texas School Zones Effective Date Of Restrictions: 1 September 2009, H.B. 55 (TX) Before Restrictions Assessed August 2009/After Restrictions Data First-Third Week September 2009 Sampling Reported In Three Categories: Limited Enforcement, Strong Enforcement, Control (no signs posted-limited enforcement) Limited Enforcement (all locations with posted signs) Location

Before Restrictions

Wichita Street/Fort Worth, TX (school zone active 1445-1700 hrs)

Total Vehicles Male/Female Sample % On Phone Male/Male % Female/Female %

1,002 570/432 7.1% 5.1% 9.5%

Total Vehicles Male/Female Sample % On Phone Male/Male % Female/Female %

890 491/399 7.3% 5.5% 9.5%

Leonard School/Benbrook Rd./Fort Worth, TX (school zone active 0830-0930 hrs)

Total Vehicles Male/Female Sample % On Phone Male/Male % Female/Female %

1,076 694/382 7.1% 5.9% 9.2%

Total Vehicles Male/Female Sample % On Phone Male/Male % Female/Female%

989 582/407 7.2% 5.8% 9.1%

Cottonwood Elem./Coppell,TX (school zone active 1445-1600 hrs)

Total Vehicles Male/Female Sample % On Phone Male/Male % Female/Female %

481 212/269 7.6% 5.6% 9.4%

Total Vehicles Male/Female Sample % On Phone Male/Male % Female/Female %

471 202/269 7.9% 5.4% 9.7%

Total Sample Size Male/Female Sample % On Phone Male/Male % Female/Female %

2,559 1,476/1,083 7.3% 5.7% 9.4%

Total Sample Size 2,350 Male/Female Sample 1,275/1,075 % On Phone 7.6% Male/Male % 5.8% Female/Female % 9.6% Total Sample Limited =4,909

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After Restrictions

Strong Enforcement (location with posted signs) 3325 Valley View Lane/Farmers Branch, TX (school zone active 1415-1530 hrs)

Total Vehicles Male/Female Sample % On Phone Male/Male% Female/Female%

604 317/287 7.7% 5.4% 9.5%

Total Vehicles 640 Male/Female Sample 305/335 % On Phone 2.3% 1.6% Male/Male% Female/Female% 3.0% Total Sample Strong =1,244 Total Sample Strong / Limited=6,153

Control Sample-No Signs Restricting Cell Phone Use In School Zones-No Strong Enforcement-Three Weeks After Date Of State Law During School Zone Active

Before School Zone Active 2800 W. Arkansas, Arlington, TX (school zone active 1430-1600 hrs)

Total Vehicles Male/Female % On Phone Male/Male% Female/Female%

476 249/227 8.8% 6.0% 11.9%

Total Vehicles 586 Male/Female 278/308 % On Phone 7.1% Male/Male% 4.0% Female/Female% 9.7% Total Sample No Signs=1,062 Grand Total Of Research=7,215

Statistics clearly show with no signs banning cell phone use in school zones, drivers used their phones at higher rate before the school zone became active compared to those school zones posting the signs. Further, where enforcement was aggressively present on a consistent basis and with the cooperation of the courts as is the case with Farmers Branch, the total percentage of cell phone use was significantly reduced when school zones were active. With Limited Enforcement the average % On Phone was 7.6% for 4,909 vehicles compared to Strong Enforcement of only 2.3% when school zones were active. This is a reduction of 5.3% with Strong Enforcement. The data suggests conclusively that cell phone use bans in school zones will only be effective with, 1) posting the signs of restriction of cell phone use and, 2) strong, consistent enforcement with court cooperation. Research design mandated multiple observations on different days during inactive and active school zones Speed Measurement Laboratories, Inc.-817/2912396, [email protected].