LaHood, American Idol winner team up against texting and driving

Pop star Jordin Sparks joined Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Tuesday to urge drivers not to text message and drive. The Washington event is the latest effort by LaHood to bring attention to the dangers of texting while driving and other forms of distracted driving.

The event highlighted an effort launched by insurer Allstate called the "X to TXT" campaign, aimed at encouraging teen drivers and their parents to pledge not to text while driving and to urge lawmakers to pass legislation that would ban texting while driving.

Texting and other driver distractions contribute to a quarter of all police-related traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A study conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech University and released last summer found that drivers who send text messages on a cell phone are about 23 times more likely to get into some type of crash or near-miss than non-distracted drivers.

Allstate said in a news release that 75,000 people have signed its pledge not to text and drive, while 5,000 individuals have signed its petition urging Congress to pass legislation banning texting while driving.

"Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic, and we need to work together to stop thousands of unnecessary injuries and deaths every year," LaHood said in the news release. Sparks, a former American Idol winner, added that "it can be easy to forget the dangers of texting and driving when you get behind the wheel. That's why it is important for teens, their friends and families to acknowledge the risks and pledge together not to do it."