8,197 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

Motorists comprised the largest group of individuals killed or injured, with 27 fatalities and 3,044 injuries. Crashes also resulted in 8 pedestrian fatalities and 55 pedestrian injuries. According to the data, no cyclists were killed or injured during this period.

Crash patterns show a distinct peak during the work week, culminating on Friday with 1,342 incidents. The most hazardous time of day was the afternoon commute, with a peak of 761 crashes occurring during the 4 p.m. hour. Overall, a majority of crashes, 5,398 in total, happened during daylight hours.

Of the 8,197 crashes, 73% (5,984) resulted in no injuries, involving only property damage. The remaining incidents involved some level of injury, including 172 crashes with serious injuries and 1,019 with minor injuries. There were 33 distinct fatal crashes, which resulted in a total of 35 fatalities, as a single crash can lead to multiple deaths.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 33 fatal crash events resulted in 35 persons killed.

The majority of crashes occurred in ideal driving conditions. Specifically, 61.4% (5,034) of crashes happened in clear weather, 75.8% (6,215) on dry road surfaces, and 65.9% (5,398) during daylight hours. Crashes in adverse conditions were less frequent, with 949 incidents reported during rain and 1,614 on wet roads.

Among the 19,564 individuals involved in crashes, the largest demographic was the 26-34 age group, accounting for 2,954 people. The most frequently involved vehicle makes were Chevrolet (2,375 vehicles), Ford (2,196 vehicles), and Honda (1,518 vehicles). Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved, with 7,933 units recorded in crashes.

The vast majority of crashes, 7,109 out of 8,197, had their first harmful event occur on the main roadway. However, a notable portion were run-off-road incidents, with a combined 769 crashes (9.4%) occurring on the shoulder, roadside, or in the median. These events indicate instances where vehicles departed the intended travel lanes.

Analysis of the 15,517 vehicles with traffic control data shows that the most common scenario was an absence of traffic controls, accounting for 9,282 vehicles. Locations with traffic signals were the site of collisions involving 5,007 vehicles. Crashes at intersections controlled by stop signs involved 1,037 vehicles.

The most frequently cited contributing factor for vehicles in crashes was 'Following too Close / ACDA,' attributed to 2,330 units. 'Failure to Yield' was the second-most common factor, noted for 1,309 vehicles. Other significant factors included 'Drove off Road' (661 vehicles) and 'Improper Lane Change' (502 vehicles).

A total of 516 commercial trucks were involved in crashes in Butler County. Of these, 270 were identified as semi-tractor trailers, while the remaining 246 were classified as other types of commercial vehicles. These vehicles represent a notable category due to their size and potential crash severity.

Crashes in 2021 involved 101 motorcyclists, 64 pedestrians, and 23 bicyclists. Combined, there were 87 incidents involving vulnerable road users (pedestrians and bicyclists). These types of crashes are often associated with a higher risk of severe injury or fatality.

There were 267 crashes involving collisions with animals reported in the county. The vast majority of these incidents, 234 crashes, were attributed to collisions with deer. The remaining 33 crashes involved other, unspecified types of animals.

Impairment was a factor in 390 crashes, representing 4.8% of the total. Alcohol was involved in 300 of these incidents, drugs were a factor in 56, and a combination of alcohol and drugs was present in 34. These figures should be considered a minimum, as impairment can be under-reported.

Among the 14,172 drivers involved in crashes, a small but significant number were noted to have a condition affecting their driving ability. This includes 304 drivers reported as being under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication. Additionally, 74 drivers were reported as fatigued or having fallen asleep, and 73 had a physical impairment.

Among drivers for whom a distraction was noted, the most common were general distractions inside the vehicle (173 drivers) or outside the vehicle (123 drivers). Electronic device use was also a factor, with 62 drivers manually operating a device like a phone for texting or dialing, and 18 drivers talking on a hand-held device.

Analysis of roadway geometry shows that 19.5% of crashes (1,602) occurred on a grade, whether straight or curved. An additional 7.5% of crashes (611) took place on curves. The majority of incidents, 6,214 crashes, occurred on straight and level sections of road.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in a few key areas. The city of Hamilton recorded the highest number of incidents with 1,818 crashes, representing 22.2% of the county's total. West Chester and Fairfield also saw high volumes, with 1,598 (19.5%) and 1,471 (17.9%) crashes, respectively.

The most common action for vehicles immediately prior to a crash was driving straight ahead, which was the case for 8,036 vehicles. The next most frequent pre-crash action was slowing or stopping in traffic, involving 2,637 vehicles. Making a left turn was the third most common action, recorded for 1,442 vehicles.

Rear-end collisions were the most common crash type, accounting for 2,398 incidents or 29.3% of the total. Single-vehicle crashes, categorized as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' were also frequent, with 2,220 incidents (27.1%). Angle collisions represented another major category, with 2,081 crashes (25.4%).

Passenger cars were the predominant vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 7,933 of the total units. Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) were the second most common with 3,425 units, followed by pickup trucks with 1,777 units. In total, 752 commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors, single-unit trucks, and buses, were involved in collisions.

Of the 19,564 people involved in crashes, the majority (14,172, or 72.4%) were drivers. Vehicle occupants, or passengers, accounted for 5,323 individuals (27.2%). A small fraction of those involved were pedestrians, totaling 69 individuals.

Among the 19,564 people involved in traffic incidents, 3,134 suffered an injury or were killed. This total includes 35 fatalities, 200 serious injuries, 1,367 minor injuries, and 1,532 possible injuries. The remaining 15,772 individuals were not injured.

Data on safety equipment usage shows that 15,878 vehicle occupants were using a shoulder and lap belt. However, 911 individuals were recorded as using no safety equipment at all. For children, 402 were in a forward-facing child restraint system and 203 were in a rear-facing system.

The majority of incidents, 6,040 crashes (73.7%), were two-vehicle collisions. Single-vehicle crashes accounted for 1,560 incidents, or 19.0% of the total. Multi-vehicle crashes involving three or more units were less common, though one incident involved as many as 11 vehicles.