Get Off Your Cell Phone In A School Zone

I was irate when talking to my wife yesterday.  I had just dropped my kids off at school and I was heading back to my car when a driver came through the school driveway — not even a road, but a driveway where a majority of the kids going to school cross — while talking on her cell phone.  Not only is this just dangerous and a hazard to kids and parents, but it’s also illegal.  Texas Transportation Code section 545.425 makes it illegal for a driver to use a cell phone in a properly marked school zone unless the driver is stopped or is using a hands-free device.

It turns out that I wasn’t the only one noticing a problem.  When I was getting ready for bed last night, I was watching the 10:00 KXAN news last night, and they had a story about drivers in school zones using cell phones.  And not only was the story about drivers in school zones, it was specifically about drivers in the school zone at MY KIDS’ SCHOOL.  You can watch the story here:

 

Austin ISD police commander Stephen Baker says that, “People just aren’t paying attention to the road, whether it’s texting, whether it’s cell phone use, whether it’s reading a newspaper, people just aren’t paying attention.” 

Don’t be like these people.  Watch out for all of our kids and parents and follow the law by getting off your cell phone in a school zone.   My kids and I thank you.