1,693 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

Motorists comprised the largest group of individuals killed or seriously injured, with 13 fatalities and 652 injuries. Crashes also resulted in 2 pedestrian fatalities and 8 pedestrian injuries. No bicyclists were killed or injured in 2021.

Crash patterns in Columbiana County show a distinct peak during the weekday afternoon commute, with the highest number of incidents occurring at 5 p.m. (154 crashes). Friday was the most frequent day for crashes, with 288 incidents reported. Overall, a majority of crashes (1,032, or 61%) occurred during daylight hours.

The majority of crashes (72.1%, or 1,221 incidents) resulted in no injuries. Injury-sustaining crashes accounted for 27.1% of the total, including 57 with serious injuries, 263 with minor injuries, and 138 with possible injuries. There were 14 distinct fatal crashes, which resulted in a total of 15 fatalities.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 14 fatal crash events resulted in 15 persons killed.

A majority of crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 75.4% (1,276 crashes) on dry road surfaces and 61.0% (1,032 crashes) during daylight hours. Regarding weather, 84.3% of incidents took place in clear or cloudy conditions, while rain was a factor in 169 crashes and snow in 69 crashes.

Among the 3,423 people involved in crashes, the 26-34 age group was the most represented with 543 individuals, followed by the 16-20 age group (465) and the 65+ age group (456). The most frequently involved vehicle makes were Chevrolet (552 vehicles), Ford (483 vehicles), and Dodge (214 vehicles).

While the majority of crashes (1,207 incidents) had their first harmful event on the roadway, a significant number were run-off-road events. A total of 469 crashes, representing 27.7% of all incidents, occurred off the primary travel lanes, including 379 on the roadside and 57 on the shoulder.

Analysis of the 2,676 vehicles involved in crashes shows that most incidents occurred at locations without traffic controls, accounting for 1,981 vehicles (74.3%). Vehicles at intersections with traffic signals were involved in 345 cases (12.9%), and those at stop signs were involved in 281 cases (10.5%).

The most frequently cited contributing factors for drivers involved in crashes were 'Drove off Road' (380 instances), 'Following too Close / ACDA' (311 instances), and 'Failure to Yield' (288 instances). These three factors represent the primary driver actions leading to collisions in the dataset.

A total of 110 commercial trucks were involved in crashes during this period. The incidents were split almost evenly between semi-tractor trailers, which accounted for 56 of the vehicles, and other types of commercial vehicles, which accounted for the remaining 54.

Crashes in 2021 involved 56 vulnerable road users and motorcyclists. This total includes 46 motorcyclists, 9 pedestrians, and 1 bicyclist. These user types are often associated with higher rates of injury and fatality.

Animal-related collisions accounted for 182 incidents, or 10.7% of all crashes in the county. Deer were the most common animal involved, cited in 166 of these crashes, with other animal types accounting for the remaining 16 incidents.

Impairment was a contributing factor in 129 crashes, representing 7.6% of the total. Alcohol was the most cited substance, involved in 91 of these cases, while drugs were a factor in 23 cases and a combination of alcohol and drugs was noted in 15 cases.

Beyond 'Apparently Normal,' the most common driver condition noted was being 'Under the Influence of Medications / Drugs / Alcohol,' which was reported for 126 drivers. Additionally, 25 drivers were reported to have 'Fell Asleep; Fainted; Fatigued; etc.', and 11 had a 'Physical Impairment' at the time of the crash.

Among drivers for whom a distraction was noted, the most common types were 'Other distraction inside the vehicle' (41 drivers) and 'Other distraction outside the vehicle' (22 drivers). The use of an electronic device was cited as a distraction for 16 drivers, including 6 who were manually operating the device.

While a majority of crashes occurred on straight and level sections of road, roadway geometry was a factor in a notable number of incidents. Crashes on curves (both level and on a grade) accounted for 316 incidents (18.7% of the total), while crashes on grades (both straight and on a curve) occurred in 540 incidents (31.9%).

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in a few key areas. The city of Salem recorded the highest number of incidents with 253, followed by the townships of East Liverpool and St. Clair, which each reported 198 crashes. These three municipalities alone accounted for 38.3% of all crashes in the county.

The most common action for vehicles immediately prior to a crash was 'Straight Ahead,' reported for 1,558 vehicles (58.2% of all involved units). Other frequent pre-crash actions included 'Slowing or Stopped In Traffic' (281 vehicles, or 10.5%) and 'Making Left Turn' (226 vehicles, or 8.4%).

Single-vehicle crashes were the predominant type of incident, with 846 crashes (50.0%) classified as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport.' Among collisions involving multiple vehicles, angle collisions were the most frequent, accounting for 357 incidents (21.1%), followed by rear-end collisions with 294 incidents (17.4%).

Passenger cars were the most common type of vehicle involved in crashes, accounting for 1,161 units (43.4%). Sport Utility Vehicles (673 units) and Pick-up trucks (480 units) were the next most frequent. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors and single-unit trucks, were involved in 141 cases, representing 5.3% of all vehicles.

Of the 3,423 individuals involved in traffic incidents, the vast majority were drivers, accounting for 2,552 people (74.5%). Vehicle occupants (passengers) represented the next largest group with 861 individuals (25.2%), while pedestrians accounted for 10 of the people involved.

Among the 3,423 people involved in crashes, 660 individuals (19.3%) sustained an injury and 15 (0.4%) were fatally injured. The majority of participants, 2,701 people, were not physically injured in their respective incidents.

Among vehicle occupants for whom restraint use was documented, 226 individuals were reported as using no safety equipment. In contrast, 2,798 occupants were recorded as having used both a shoulder and lap belt, indicating a high rate of use among those involved in crashes.

Two-vehicle collisions were the most common crash configuration, comprising 878 incidents (51.9% of the total). Single-vehicle crashes were also highly frequent, accounting for 766 incidents (45.2%). Crashes involving three or more vehicles were far less common, representing only 49 incidents (2.9%).