US, Russia issue call at UN for drivers worldwide to hang up their phones _ and focus on road

US, Russia urge drivers to put down their phones

UNITED NATIONS — The United States and Russia launched a global safety campaign at U.N. headquarters Wednesday urging drivers everywhere to put down their cell phones — and focus on the road.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said drivers who send and receive texts take their eyes off the road for an average of 4 seconds, going the length of a football field without paying attention. A football field is 120 yards (meters) long.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the new campaign would seek to “mainstream” the perils of distracted driving into global discussions of road safety.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon announced a new prohibition on U.N. employees texting while driving U.N.-owned vehicles.