Safe-driving advocates, fresh off a string of legislative victories this year in Massachusetts and many other states, are now enlisting the help of celebrities as they seek to persuade the public to abandon the pervasive but pernicious habit of texting while driving.

The growing list of famous names urging people to give up the habit — as well as talking on the phone and other distracting behavior behind the wheel — is anchored by Oprah Winfrey, who has devoted multiple shows to the subject and promoted a “No Phone Zone’’ campaign that has drawn 388,000 pledges.

The celebrity ranks are as diverse as “American Idol’’ winner Jordin Sparks and former Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno, “Today’’ show host Meredith Vieira and All-Pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, 23-year-old snowboarding champion Shaun White and 88-year-old actress Betty White.

The cause has particularly taken root among those who appeal to the newly driving and about-to-drive, like the Jonas Brothers, a band especially popular with preteens. Yesterday, at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, the three brothers donned TXTNG KLLS rings at the base of their thumbs, pressed those thumbs in blue ink, and left their marks on a banner, each thumbprint representing a pledge to forgo texting and driving.

“It’s something that we can prevent, so why not help out?’’ Nick Jonas, 17, said in an interview before a softball game the trio staged as part of Allstate’s “X the TXT’’ campaign.

Thirty states have banned texting while driving, and 28 have also banned all cellphone use by drivers younger than 18, including Massachusetts, where the new law takes effect Sept. 30. But laws and police presence can only do so much. The government, nonprofits, insurance companies, and automakers have courted celebrities to help.

“Well-known figures such as Oprah, the Jonas Brothers, and Jordin Sparks have been a tremendous help in raising the level of public awareness,’’ US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said through a spokeswoman. “We’re doing everything we can to get people to put away cellphones while driving, and their efforts will certainly help us to prevent the thousands of needless deaths and injuries being caused by distracted driving every year.’’

The Department of Transportation lent its imprimatur this summer to a safe-driving bus tour with ESPN and State Farm that hit NFL training camps. The Governors Highway Safety Association and Ford sponsor Driving Skills for Life, a free education program for teens that includes a component on cellphones as a distraction and that has been promoted by celebrities such as R&B singer and actor Usher.

“You want to be able to speak to teens in ways in which they relate, and you don’t do that through people like me in suits; you do that through their peers and people they recognize,’’ said Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the governors group.

And campaigns featuring celebrities have in the past affected public behavior, specialists say.

“Celebrities can be extremely influential because they help to shape social norms and expectations about acceptable and appropriate behavior,’’ said Jay Winsten, associate dean at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Winsten said celebrities played an important role two decades ago in persuading the public to adopt the concept of “designated drivers’’ — a campaign Winsten led through the Harvard Alcohol Project.

“It would be tough to change the culture without [celebrities],’’ he said. “The challenge, however, is to sustain the effort because it doesn’t change overnight.’’

Teenagers who might not pay attention in drivers’ education class seem to snap to attention when celebrities speak.

“I’m in a unique position, and maybe I can shine a different light on this issue for these kids, so it doesn’t seem lame and textbook,’’ said Kate Voegele, 23, a musician and actress who had a top 10 album and appears on the television show “One Tree Hill.’’ Voegele now visits schools through the Ford Driving Skills for Life program.

“I think it’s going to be easier to get kids to stop texting while driving than it is to get kids to stop texting in class,’’ said Voegele, who said she prevents herself from texting while driving by placing her BlackBerry in her purse.

The message is especially clear coming from 21-year-old Colin Braun, an up-and-coming NASCAR driver with the Roush Fenway Racing team.

“There’s a time to be talking on your cellphone and texting and a time to be driving your car, and you can’t do those two things at the same time,’’ said Braun, whose laps can exceed 175 miles an hour.

In Brockton, the banner where Jonas Brothers fans added their own thumbprints hung near a series of posted warnings printed in large text: “Behind the wheel, one text equals four beers,’’ “Reaching for your phone while driving increases your risk of crashing by 9x,’’ and “Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens.’’

Outside the stadium, a trio of friends slipped off midway through the softball game to drive to Mansfield to buy tickets for their second Jonas Brothers concert in as many nights. All three confessed to texting while driving.

Katie Monopoli, 21, of Shrewsbury, said she tries only to read the messages, not reply. Kelly Miskin, an 18-year-old from Connecticut, said she tries only to text at red lights.

Monopoli and Miskin said they would try to cut back on texting. But Courtney Lyons, a West Springfield 21-year-old who said she sends as many as 600 texts a day, said she did not know if she could honor the pledge not to text while driving.

“I’ll try not to as hard as I can,’’ she said, a TXTNG KLLS ring on her blue-inked thumb. “But sometimes when you’re trying to meet somebody and your plans are all getting fumbled’’ it is hard to resist tapping out a quick note at the wheel.

“Come on,’’ Monopoli said, shooting her a look. “Don’t make the Jonas Brothers look bad.’’