447 CRASHES IN
BLUE ASH, OH
2021

One pedestrian fatality was recorded, along with 7 pedestrians injured. There were no cyclist fatalities or injuries reported in 2021. Motorists accounted for 0 fatalities and 116 injuries.

Crashes in Blue Ash peaked on Wednesdays, with 97 incidents reported. The peak hour for crashes was 4 p.m., recording 48 incidents. A substantial portion of crashes, 75.6%, occurred during daylight hours, while 18.8% happened in dark conditions.

Of the 447 crashes, 359 (80.3%) resulted in no injuries. Injury-causing crashes, including serious, minor, and possible injuries, totaled 87 incidents (19.5%). One crash was classified as fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

The majority of crashes occurred under clear weather conditions (277 incidents), on dry road surfaces (355 incidents), and during daylight hours (338 incidents). Adverse conditions such as rain (47 incidents) and wet road surfaces (81 incidents) were also present in a notable number of crashes.

The age group 26-34 was the most represented among persons involved in crashes, with 166 individuals. This was followed by the 65+ age group with 149 individuals and the 45-54 age group with 144 individuals. Passenger cars were the most frequently involved vehicle type, accounting for 582 vehicles, with Honda (109), Chevrolet (103), and Toyota (98) being the top three makes.

The vast majority of crashes, 392 (87.7%), occurred on the roadway. A total of 42 crashes (9.4%) occurred off the main travel lanes, including 21 outside the trafficway, 11 on the roadside, 8 on the shoulder, and 2 in the median.

Among vehicles involved in crashes, 517 were at locations with no traffic control, making it the dominant condition. Locations with signals accounted for 279 vehicles. Overall, 32.4% of vehicles involved in crashes were at signalized locations, while 67.6% were at locations with other forms of control or no control.

The most frequent contributing factor was 'Following too Close / ACDA,' accounting for 153 instances. This was followed by 'Failure to Yield' with 61 instances and 'Improper Lane Change' with 37 instances. These top three specific factors collectively represent a significant portion of identified contributing actions.

A total of 62 commercial vehicles were involved in crashes. This included 50 'Other Commercial Vehicle' types and 12 'Semi-Tractor Trailer' units.

Crashes involved 8 pedestrians and 3 motorcyclists in 2021. There were no bicyclists reported as involved in crashes. Collectively, crashes involving these vulnerable road users represented 2.5% of all crashes.

A total of 13 crashes involved impairment, with 10 attributed to alcohol and 3 to drugs. These impairment-related crashes constituted 2.9% of all crashes. This figure should be considered a baseline, as impairment is often under-reported.

Among drivers involved in crashes, 11 were reported as 'Under the Influence of Medications / Drugs / Alcohol.' Additionally, 8 drivers were noted to have 'Fell Asleep; Fainted; Fatigued; etc.' Four drivers had a 'Physical Impairment' and 2 were 'Emotional.'

Driver distraction was identified in 48 instances across various categories. The most common specific distractions included 'Other distraction inside the vehicle' (22 instances) and 'Other distraction outside the vehicle' (16 instances). Manually operating an electronic communication device was noted in 3 instances.

Approximately 9.4% of crashes occurred on curves, including 23 on 'Curve Grade' and 19 on 'Curve Level' alignments. Crashes on grades, encompassing 'Straight Grade' and 'Curve Grade,' represented 22.6% of all incidents. The majority of crashes occurred on 'Straight Level' alignments, with 327 incidents.

The most common pre-crash action for vehicles was 'Straight Ahead,' observed in 359 instances. 'Slowing or Stopped In Traffic' was the second most frequent action with 186 instances. 'Making Left Turn' was reported in 97 instances.

Rear-end collisions were the most prevalent manner of collision, accounting for 155 crashes or 34.7% of the total. Angle collisions were the second most common, with 119 incidents or 26.6%. 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport' represented 65 crashes, or 14.5%.

Passenger Cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, totaling 582 vehicles. Sport Utility Vehicles (155) and Pick up trucks (51) were also frequently involved. Commercial vehicles, including Single Unit Trucks, Semi-Tractors, and Cargo Vans, collectively accounted for 33 vehicles.

Drivers constituted the largest group of persons involved in crashes, with 816 individuals. Occupants (passengers) represented 224 individuals, while pedestrians accounted for 8 individuals. These roles reflect the primary participants in crash events.

Among all persons involved in crashes, 1 individual sustained a fatal injury (K). A total of 123 individuals sustained injuries, including 8 serious (A), 51 minor (B), and 64 possible (C) injuries. The vast majority, 919 individuals, sustained no injuries (O).

The majority of participants, 896 individuals, were reported as using 'Shoulder and Lap Belt Used.' However, 31 individuals were recorded as having 'None Used.' Additionally, 20 individuals used 'Child Restraint System - Forward Facing.'

The most common crash scenario involved two vehicles, accounting for 378 of the 447 crashes. Single-vehicle crashes represented 52 incidents, or 11.6% of the total. Multi-vehicle crashes involving three or more vehicles occurred in 17 instances.