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 After Restrictions

Wichita Street/Fort Worth, TX Total Vehicles 1,002 Total Vehicles 890

(school zone active 1445-1700 hrs) Male/Female Sample 570/432 Male/Female Sample 491/399
% On Phone 7.1% % On Phone 7.3%
Male/Male % 5.1% Male/Male % 5.5%
Female/Female % 9.5% Female/Female % 9.5%

Leonard School/Benbrook Rd./Fort Worth, TX Total Vehicles 1,076 Total Vehicles 989
(school zone active 0830-0930 hrs) Male/Female Sample 694/382 Male/Female Sample 582/407
% On Phone 7.1% % On Phone 7.2%
Male/Male % 5.9% Male/Male % 5.8%
Female/Female % 9.2% Female/Female% 9.1%

Cottonwood Elem./Coppell,TX Total Vehicles 481 Total Vehicles 471

(school zone active 1445-1600 hrs) Male/Female Sample 212/269 Male/Female Sample 202/269
% On Phone 7.6% % On Phone 7.9%
Male/Male % 5.6% Male/Male % 5.4%
Female/Female % 9.4% Female/Female % 9.7%

Total Sample Size 2,559 Total Sample Size 2,350

Male/Female Sample 1,476/1,083 Male/Female Sample 1,275/1,075
` % On Phone 7.3% % On Phone 7.6%
Male/Male % 5.7% Male/Male % 5.8%
Female/Female % 9.4% Female/Female % 9.6%
Total Sample Limited =4,909

Strong Enforcement (location with posted signs)

3325 Valley View Lane/Farmers Branch, TX Total Vehicles 604 Total Vehicles 640
(school zone active 1415-1530 hrs) Male/Female Sample 317/287 Male/Female Sample 305/335
% On Phone 7.7% % On Phone 2.3%
Male/Male% 5.4% Male/Male% 1.6%
Female/Female% 9.5% 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

Before School Zone Active During School Zone Active

2800 W. Arkansas, Arlington, TX Total Vehicles 476 Total Vehicles 586

(school zone active 1430-1600 hrs) Male/Female 249/227 Male/Female 278/308
% On Phone 8.8% % On Phone 7.1%
Male/Male% 6.0% Male/Male% 4.0%
Female/Female% 11.9% 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, speed@speedinglimits.com.