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Talking while driving: MISD asks parents to turn off cell phones in school drop-off zones
BY STEFANIE WHITE, McKinney Courier-Gazette
McKinney ISD is kicking off a new campaign asking parents to turn off their cell phones while in school drop-off zones.
The principals brought up the cell phone issue during their monthly meeting with McKinney ISD Superintendent Tom Crowe to discuss any concerns.
“One of the things we heard from our principals was cell phone usage in our drop-off zones,” said Cody Cunningham, McKinney ISD assistant to the superintendent for communications.
“We’ve had a couple of near-misses because parents have been talking on cell phones and weren’t paying attention to students walking in the drop-off areas,” Cunningham said. “We’re talking about a small minority of people that are distracted.”
While people feel they can competently drive and chat, Cunningham said cell phone talking still takes a driver’s focus away from where it should be.
“Regardless of how comfortable you feel talking and driving, there’s still some level of distraction,” Cunningham said.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, there were 1,032 car accidents with eight deaths attributed to cell phone usage in 2001.
Currently, the city of McKinney does not have an ordinance that prohibits cell phone use in drop-off and school zones.
“We have considered that possibly for the future,” Cunningham said. “We just want to begin with an informational campaign.”
The town of Highland Park recently approved an ordinance that bans cell phones while in school zones. Violators face a possible fine.
The district is asking parents to turn off all cell phone devices, both hand-held and hands-free, while in the drop-off areas, which are at the front of the school.
“We’re trying to approach this in a positive way,” Cunningham said. “We’re not telling people what to do. We’re asking parents for help.”
Cunningham said McKinney ISD anticipates parents being cooperative with the effort to keep children safe.
“Safety of their children and other people’s children is their No. 1 priority,” Cunningham said. “We feel simply by asking parents for help, we can create more awareness. Again, we’re not trying to impose on anybody’s rights.”
Throughout the remainder of the school year, the district will continue to ask parents to turn off cell phones with signs outside the campus and other forms of communication.
Contact staff writer Stefanie White at swhite@acnpapers.com. To post comments online, access this story at www.scntx.com.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Arjay wrote on Jan 30, 2008 1:03 PM:
" In addition to this proposed cell phone ban in school drop zones, I suggest consideration of a 'mascara application ban' along with a 'lipstick blot restriction' coupled an 'eyebrow tweeze prohibiton'. "
kim wrote on Jan 30, 2008 9:00 PM:
" I think that instead of this proposed cell phone ban in school drop zones . It will not solve the problem . Cause parents will not listen . Why dont the Aminstration of Mckinney I.S.D Turn There Cell Phones Off and worry about other things that are going on in the campuses espically at the high school level espically with the dress codes !!!!!! "
NannyState wrote on Jan 30, 2008 10:22 PM:
" Studies show distractions are not due to the positioning of the hands or the items they hold...it's the mental distraction from other things besides the ROAD. Hands-free devices are no less distractive than a hand-held device. Given the recent nanny-state ordinances our illustrious city leaders have enacted, I'm afraid the slippery slope has been slimed and we'll soon see another Highland Park-like ordinance passed within 6 months. It's way past time for our liberal, Al Gore-worshiping mayor to be booted from office and usher in some common sense at the top-most spot. "
Arjay wrote on Jan 31, 2008 11:19 AM:
" Kim, you must be a graduate of MISD (or perhaps a dropout?) based upon your poor grammar, spelling, punctuation and inability to formulate a cogent sentence.
But nonetheless, your point I think, is that MISD has more imporatant things to concern itsself with beyond which soccer mom has her ear plugged into a cell phone while dumping little Johnny at school each morning. With this I would agree.
"
But nonetheless, your point I think, is that MISD has more imporatant things to concern itsself with beyond which soccer mom has her ear plugged into a cell phone while dumping little Johnny at school each morning. With this I would agree.
"
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