The federal government this week launches an ad campaign aimed at distracted driving. "U Drive, U text, U pay" is the slogan at the end of a vivid commercial that shows a staged accident caused when a young driver runs a stop sign while checking her phone. The Department of Transportation also established a website – www.distraction.gov – as part of the safety push, which uses the hashtag #justdrive.

The government "puts distracted driving on par with our efforts to fight drunk driving or to encourage seatbelt use," says Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. Using a phone to text or calls is the most common risk – and something that’s illegal in many areas. Eating, drinking, fiddling with the radio or even talking to another person in the vehicle also can distract a driver dangerously.

In 2012, federal estimates show, 421,000 Americans were hurt in crashes involving a distracted driver and more than 3,300 people died. Those wrecks happen because people think they can do more behind the wheel than they should. Forty-three states and the District of Columbia ban text messaging for drivers of all ages, and 37 states and D.C. ban cell phone use by novice drivers.

Cabinet member says: "Texting and cell phone use behind the wheel significantly increases a driver's risk of crashing. Even a single, momentary distraction while driving can cause a lifetime of devastating consequences." – Anthony Foxx, secretary of transportation

Advice to teens: "Don't stop at being a great driver – be a great passenger! Make sure to call out your friends, and even your parents, if you see them using a cell phone behind the wheel." – From new federal website

The risk: Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field, blindfolded.