Solon High Joins Safe Teen Driving Program

SOLON, OH — Solon High is taking part in a new education program, the Child Injury Prevention Project. The initiative aims to reduce motor vehicle accidents among high school-aged students.

Solon High students will be required to watch an educational module in order to receive a Solon High parking permit. Members of the University Hospitals' Injury Prevention Center will also be in the parking lot at the end of this week, conducting a pre-program observation of students.

Car accidents are the leading cause of injury and death among teenagers. This new pilot program is designed to increase driver awareness and adherence to Ohio's mandated protections in the state's graduated driving licensing law.

Those laws cover topics like distracted driving, limits on the number of passengers in a car, and seat belt use. During the first year of having a driver's license, drivers cannot operate a car from midnight to 6 a.m. unless they're accompanied by a parent or guardian, are driving to or from work, or are driving to or from an official school or religious event.

The program is part of a collaboration with University Hospitals' Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital. The Ohio Department of Health is funding the project through a grant.