West Linn Police will be joining other area agencies to participate in a federally funded effort to educate the public about distracted driving, “U DRIVE, U TEXT, U PAY”.

Distractions occur when a driver voluntarily diverts attention to something not related to driving that uses the driver's eyes, ears, or hands.  There are four types of driver distraction:

• Visual--looking at something other than the road
• Auditory--hearing something not related to driving
• Manual--manipulating something other than the wheel
• Cognitive--thinking about something other than driving

West Linn Police urge drivers to follow these safety tips:

• If you are expecting a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location. Once you are safely off the road and parked, it is safe to text.
• Designate your passenger as your “designated texter.” Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages.
• Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving. 
• Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature, or put your cell phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your destination.

West Linn Police Department will participate in High Visibility Enforcement patrols, using funds from a grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation through Oregon Impact. The grant funding will allow the West Linn Police Department to deploy extra officers to conduct traffic safety stops. Grant money will also fund more WLPD patrols for speeding, seatbelt use, and DUII.