NEW YORK — Barack Obama has declared texting and talking while driving a global epidemic and he’s leading a United Nations effort to do something about it.

"Distracted driving isn’t just a deadly epidemic in the U.S. — it’s a threat around the world," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

"We believe our nations can do more to stop distracted driving if we work together," proclaimed LaHood, who is also the overseer of the U.S. trucking industry.

"The Obama Administration stands ready to work with other countries so that we can put an end to dangerous driving behaviors and make the world’s roads safer for everyone."

United Nations and other international officials met in New York Wednesday to discuss distracted driving.

We wonder, though, just what effect a global initiative to curb the use of hand-held technology will have in nations, where, for example, cars, rickshaws and elephants share the same one-lane road.

Anyone who has visited any part of the world beyond the west can attest to the myriad distractions that can befall drivers, including:

Driver distraction can take many
forms. The U.N. is cracking down on texting.

No paved roads. (In China, there are currently 184 towns and 54,000 villages that have no access to roads).

No safety. (This from a travel advisory to visitors to Nigeria: "Night driving should be avoided. Bandits and police roadblocks are more numerous at night." If you are brave enough to get behind the wheel there, beware, Lagos — one of the biggest cities in the world — only has a handful of working traffic signals).

No Security: (In conflict zones all over the Middle East, the roadkill lying by the side of the road might actually be stuffed with an IED (improvised explosive device).

Bovine. (In India, cows are sacred and can walk wherever they please. So don’t hit one.)

No left turns. (Click here. No further explanation needed).

But it’s nice to see the UN add texting to that list.