Texas DOT.

Safe Phone Zones encourage motorists to pull off the road to use their phone.

Public-Private Partnership.

GEICO-sponsored Safe Phone Zones marks the first program under TxDOT's Sponsor Acknowledgement Program, which seeks companies to fund various benefits for drivers, such as free Wi-Fi at Safety Rest Areas and Travel Information Centers (TICs). In addition to repurposing fifty-five Rest Area and TIC locations as Safe Phone Zones, GEICO sponsorship provides free wireless access to motorists stopping at twenty-two of the state's most highly visited Rest Area locations. Highway signs in advance of each sponsored location remind motorists of the upcoming Safe Phone Zone.

The Announcement.

On November 29, 2016, TxDOT Director of Engineering and Safety Operations Mark Marek announced the launch of the program, stating: "We are pleased to partner with our first sponsor to create these Safe Phone Zones so people will pull off the road to use their phone rather than using them as they drive." More than 100,000 crashes involve distracted driving in Texas each year. Safe Phone Zones are intended to provide motorists with a safe option for communicating while traveling. GEICO expressed its enthusiasm for partnering with TxDOT Safe Phone Zones."

Safe Phone Zone TX

The State's Commitment.

“We are pleased to partner with our first sponsor to create these Safe Phone Zones so people will pull off the road to use their phone rather than using them as they drive. With more than 100,000 crashes in Texas each year involving distracted driving, we hope to curb this deadly habit by encouraging drivers to pull over at TxDOT Safety Rest Areas and Travel Information Centers to use apps, check email and surf the Web in a safe location.”

– TxDOT Director of Engineering
and Safety Operations Mark Marek

Resources.

For more information on this program in Texas, please see:

Map of Texas DOT Rest Area Locations

Texas DOT Rest Area Amenities

Texas DOT Rest Area Brochure

The Sponsor's Commitment.

““The number of traffic fatalities nationwide continues to move in the wrong direction, and distracted driving is no doubt a contributing factor,” said Dan Beacom, regional vice president at GEICO’s Richardson office. “GEICO is pleased that we can partner with the Texas Department of Transportation to support dozens of Safe Phone Zones, and we're confident these locations will help make highways in Texas safer for all drivers.”