948 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

In 2021, motorists accounted for the vast majority of traffic deaths and injuries in Athens County, with 11 motorists killed and 309 injured. One pedestrian was killed and five were injured in traffic crashes during the same period. There were no cyclist fatalities or injuries recorded in the data.

Crash frequencies in Athens County peaked on Wednesdays, with 162 incidents, and Fridays, with 159 incidents. The single busiest hour for crashes was the 5 p.m. evening commute hour, which saw 69 crashes. Overall, more crashes occurred during daylight hours (567) than in all conditions of darkness combined (340).

The majority of crashes, 703 out of 948 (74.2%), resulted in no injuries. Injury-involved crashes, including those with serious, minor, or possible injuries, accounted for 24.5% of the total. There were 12 fatal crashes, which resulted in 12 total fatalities, indicating one death per fatal incident.

A majority of crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 715 incidents (75.4%) on dry roads and 501 (52.8%) in clear weather. Crashes during daylight hours accounted for 567 incidents, or 59.8% of the total. Adverse conditions were less frequent, with 94 crashes occurring during rain and 186 on wet road surfaces.

Among the 1,719 people involved in crashes, young individuals were the most represented, with the 16-20 age group accounting for 287 people and the 21-25 age group for 265. Of the 1,376 vehicles involved, the most frequent makes were Ford (229), Chevrolet (178), and Honda (176). Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type, involved in 701 instances.

The first harmful event in most crashes, 574 incidents, occurred on the roadway itself. However, a significant portion of crashes involved vehicles leaving the travel lanes, with 311 events originating on the roadside, 21 on the shoulder, and 21 in the median. Combined, these run-off-road crashes represent 37.2% of all incidents.

The vast majority of vehicle involvements in crashes occurred at locations with no traffic controls, accounting for 1,091 instances. Crashes at signalized intersections involved 155 vehicles, while those at intersections with stop signs involved 92 vehicles. Crashes at locations with roundabouts were noted in 32 instances.

Unsafe speed was the most cited contributing factor for drivers, noted in 241 instances. Other leading factors included driving off the road (120 instances), failure to yield (114 instances), and following too closely (109 instances). These top four factors represent a significant portion of all documented driver errors.

A total of 55 commercial vehicles were involved in crashes in Athens County. These included 21 semi-tractor trailers and 34 other types of commercial vehicles, such as single-unit trucks. These incidents represent a subset of crashes with potential for higher severity and liability.

In 2021, there were 20 crashes involving vulnerable road users or motorcyclists. These included 13 motorcycle crashes, 6 pedestrian crashes, and 1 bicycle crash. The combined total of 7 crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists highlights the risk faced by non-motorized road users.

Crashes involving animals accounted for 142 incidents, or 15% of all crashes in the county. The overwhelming majority of these, 135 crashes, were strikes involving deer. An additional 7 crashes involved other, unspecified types of animals.

Impairment was a factor in 86 crashes, representing 9.1% of the total for the year. Of the driver units where impairment was noted, alcohol was the sole factor in 59 cases, drugs were the factor in 17 cases, and a combination of alcohol and drugs was noted in 10 cases.

While most drivers were recorded as 'Apparently Normal,' a number of adverse conditions were noted. Seventy-seven drivers were identified as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. An additional 31 drivers were reported to have fallen asleep, fainted, or been fatigued at the time of their crash.

Among drivers for whom a distraction was recorded, the most common issues originated from within the vehicle. Twenty-nine drivers were distracted by an internal source, while 19 were distracted by something outside the vehicle. Nine drivers were documented as manually operating an electronic device like a phone.

Road geometry played a role in a substantial number of crashes, with 34.5% of all incidents (327 crashes) occurring on a curve. Road grade was also a factor, with 35.8% of crashes (339 incidents) happening on either a straight or curved grade. Crashes on straight, level road sections accounted for 461 incidents.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in the City of Athens, which recorded 365 incidents, or 38.5% of the county's total. The next most frequent locations were York township with 84 crashes (8.9%) and Dover township with 73 crashes (7.7%).

The most common action for vehicles immediately prior to a crash was driving straight ahead, which was the case for 655 vehicles (47.6%). The second most frequent pre-crash action was negotiating a curve, recorded for 297 vehicles (21.6%). Slowing or stopping in traffic was the third most common action, noted for 122 vehicles.

Single-vehicle crashes were the dominant type of incident, with 584 crashes (61.6%) classified as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport'. Among multi-vehicle crashes, angle collisions were the most common, accounting for 138 incidents (14.6%), followed by rear-end collisions with 113 incidents (11.9%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 701 of the 1,376 vehicles (51.0%). Sport Utility Vehicles (311) and Pick-up trucks (228) were also frequently involved, collectively making up 39.2% of the vehicles in crashes. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors and single-unit trucks, were involved in 51 instances.

Of the 1,719 individuals involved in traffic crashes, the vast majority were drivers, who accounted for 1,322 people (76.9%). Passengers made up the next largest group with 391 individuals (22.7%). A small but notable group of 6 pedestrians were also involved in these incidents.

Among all 1,719 people involved in crashes, 314 individuals sustained some level of injury, representing 18.3% of the total. This included 37 serious injuries, 169 minor injuries, and 108 possible injuries. A total of 12 individuals, or 0.7% of all persons involved, suffered fatal injuries.

A large majority of vehicle occupants, 1,420 people, were recorded as using both a shoulder and lap belt. However, 95 individuals were documented as using no safety equipment at the time of the crash. An additional 18 people used only a shoulder belt and 16 used only a lap belt.

Single-vehicle crashes constituted the majority of incidents, with 541 crashes (57.1%) involving only one vehicle. Two-vehicle crashes were the next most common scenario, accounting for 386 incidents (40.7%). Crashes involving three or more vehicles were less frequent, with 21 such incidents recorded.