The Texas Move Over Act: Driver Knowledge, Understanding, and Compliance (TTI-2009-4)

This report presents the results of a survey of driver knowledge and understanding about the Texas Move Over Act (TMOA), and of field observation of driver compliance with the law. An overview of literature on driver knowledge and understanding of traffic safety laws, and driver behavior is presented. Information collected from other state agencies about public outreach and awareness efforts about move over laws, related incident information, and information obtained from local and state Texas agencies are also discussed. The 11-question survey covered level of Texas driver knowledge of the TMOA, presented a driving scenario in which respondents identified correct and incorrect responses, and included nine demographic questions. Survey responses were evaluated using binomial logistics regression. The results indicate that having heard of the TMOA and being familiar with its requirements is significantly related to driver education, formal education, driver experience, and age factors. Having never heard of the TMOA is significantly related to driver education, formal education, ethnic group, and driver experience factors as well as population density and median housing value in Zip Code of residence. Driver understanding of the TMOA is significantly related to knowledge of the TMOA, driver education, formal education, and ethnic group factors. The field compliance data indicate that Texas driver compliance with the TMOA is significantly related to the driving environment and driver compliance with speed laws. Several recommendations are presented including implementation of a driver education and awareness campaign about the TMOA, standardization of state traffic codes, definition of best practices for local TMOA enforcement, conduct of studies about traffic incident injuries associated with TMOA violations, modification of the Texas Administrative Code to make the TMOA a permanent defensive driving curriculum requirement, modification of Texas driver education curriculum to include the TMOA, and further study about the safety and efficacy of TMOA requirements.