[IMAGE]LaHood-distracted-driving-PSA-full-6.jpg[/IMAGE]U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood launched "Faces of Distracted Driving," an online video series exploring the tragic consequences of texting and cell phone use while driving.

The series features people from across the country who have been injured or lost loved ones in distracted driving crashes. In 2009, nearly 5,500 people died and 500,000 were injured in accidents involving a distracted driver.

"These videos are dramatic evidence that the lives lost to America's distracted driving epidemic aren't statistics. They're children, parents, neighbors and friends," said Secretary LaHood. "These people have courageously come forward to share their personal tragedies in order to warn others against making the dangerous decision to talk or text behind the wheel."

"Faces of Distracted Driving" is part of Secretary LaHood's effort to raise public awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and to support victims. In January, Secretary LaHood joined anti-distracted driving advocate Jennifer Smith to announce the creation of FocusDriven, the first national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending distracted driving.

Faces of Distracted Driving" launched on Tuesday with three videos. To view the videos, click here.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's campaign against distracted driving is a multi-modal effort that includes automobiles, trains, planes and commercial vehicles.

The Department is encouraging others who would like to share their experiences with distracted driving to post videos on YouTube and email the links to faces@distraction.gov.