Fall driving: Don't get left in the dark

Do you find yourself driving in the dark a lot more lately? You’re not alone. With the end of daylight savings time last week many of us are spending more time with those headlights on.

With the time change, we now have fewer daylight hours - and increased dangers on the roadways. Since our bodies’ internal clocks tell us to sleep when it’s dark, it stands to reason early nightfall makes us more prone to drowsy driving.

Along with drowsy driving, the darker driving conditions decrease visibility and increase the chances for a car accident.

In fact, the risk of a fatal crash is three times greater at night, according to the National Safety Council, so it is very important for drivers to be prepared when the evenings become darker earlier. 

So, keep these driving safety tips in mind this fall:

• Prep your car for nighttime driving. It may be common sense, but it bears repeating. Check and clean your headlights, taillights, brake lights, and signal lights. After all, you want to see and be seen by other drivers on the road.
• Be extra cautious. Slow down to compensate for limited visibility and reduced stopping time. Also, keep in mind that pedestrians of all ages, joggers and bicyclists will be less visible during dusk and after-dark hours. According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the number of fatal crashes involving pedestrians in Ohio has risen in recent years and the majority of those deaths happen at night. That’s exacerbated by the end of daylight saving time, as the number of daylight hours shrinks. Last year, November accounted for 18 percent of Ohio’s pedestrian deaths and only 22 percent of the total happened during the day.
• Get rest. Make sure you get the proper amount of sleep each night to try and avoid drowsy driving and avoid the temptation to stay up extra late this Saturday night – even if you do get that bonus hour.
• Watch out for animals on the road. Deer and other animals are most active at night, and since more deer-related collisions occur in November than any other month, be extra careful in the weeks following daylight saving time. Visit the BWC blog for more about precautions you can take to avoid a deer collision.

One more consideration: A new distracted driving law in Ohio increased fines after deadly statistics for accidents continue to climb across the country. Just one more reason to pay attention to the road!

Check out BeSafeOhio.com for more driving safety tips, and avoiding common injuries at home and in your workplace.

BWC launches School Safety and Security Grant Program

Ohio public and private pre-kindergarten through 12th grade educational facilities can now apply for safety and security grants through BWC.

As part of its $1.5 billion rebate, BWC announced it would set aside $4 million over two years to help make schools safer for teachers, staff and students. The program was developed in consultation with stakeholders, the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio Homeland Security’s Center for P-20 Safety & Security.

Licensed preschool through 12th grade educational facilities can receive a 3-to-1 matching grant, up to $40,000, meaning BWC will match every school dollar with $3. Schools may apply for incident response equipment, building/grounds/transportation security enhancements and other safety interventions.

“From machine shops to volunteer fire departments, BWC has helped thousands of employers create safer workplaces,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison. “Schools are unique because they’re workplaces, too, but we also want them to be safe havens for our children to learn and grow. I’m pleased BWC can direct resources to protecting our educators and the children we entrust in their care.”

More information and the application are available at bwc.ohio.gov.

Website security upgrade coming Nov. 27

BWC will make a change to its website to improve security on Nov. 27. If you are already using a browser version listed on BWC's Supported Browser List, then you shouldn’t have any issues. If not, these changes mean that to take full advantage of our site, you’ll need to ensure your browser is up-to-date. For more details, check out this news item.

Kids Chance Awareness Week: Scholarships for kids of severely injured or killed workers

BWC supports the efforts of Kids’ Chance Ohio, a charitable organization that provides scholarships to eligible youth with a parent that has been killed or permanently and totally disabled from work-related injuries or occupational diseases. Kids between 16 and 25 are eligible for annual scholarships ranging from $100 to $5,000. 

The organization is not affiliated with BWC, and any awards are completely separate from BWC survivor benefits. However, for us, promoting the scholarship opportunity is simply the right thing to do.

To learn more about the scholarship, the eligibility criteria and the application process, please visit kidschanceohio.org.