US, Russia issue call at UN for drivers worldwide to hang up their phones _ and focus on road
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}UNITED NATIONS (AP) — 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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon announced a new prohibition on U.N. employees texting while driving U.N.-owned vehicles.