483 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

Motorists accounted for all 9 fatalities and 123 of the 124 total injuries recorded in 2021. One pedestrian sustained an injury. No cyclists were killed or injured during this period.

Crash frequencies peaked on Fridays, which saw 92 incidents over the year. The single hour with the most crashes was the 5 p.m. evening commute hour, with 35 incidents. Overall, 255 crashes (52.8%) occurred during daylight hours, while 193 crashes (40%) took place in dark conditions, either on lighted or unlighted roadways.

The vast majority of crashes, 387 incidents or 80.1%, resulted in no injuries. Injury-sustaining crashes accounted for 18.2% of the total, comprising 11 serious injury, 49 minor injury, and 28 possible injury events. A total of 8 crashes (1.7%) were classified as fatal, which resulted in 9 total fatalities.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 8 fatal crash events resulted in 9 persons killed.

A majority of crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 57.3% (277 crashes) happening in clear weather and 73.9% (357 crashes) on dry road surfaces. Over half of all incidents (255 crashes) took place in daylight. Adverse conditions were also a factor, with 42 crashes occurring during rain, 37 in snow, and 71 on wet road surfaces.

Among the 832 people involved in crashes, the 26-34 age group was the most represented with 135 individuals, followed by the 65+ age group with 112 individuals. Of the 730 vehicles involved, the most frequent makes were Chevrolet (150 vehicles), Ford (136 vehicles), and Dodge (68 vehicles).

The first harmful event in most crashes, 357 incidents, occurred on the roadway itself. However, a significant number of crashes originated off the main travel lanes, with 57 occurring on the roadside, 38 on the shoulder, and 2 in the median. Combined, these 97 run-off-road incidents represent 20.1% of all crashes.

Data on vehicles involved in crashes shows that a majority of incidents occurred at locations without traffic controls. Of 729 vehicles with traffic control information, 562 (77.1%) were at locations with no control device. By comparison, 104 vehicles (14.3%) were involved in crashes at signalized intersections and 62 (8.5%) at locations with a stop sign.

Among driver actions cited as contributing factors, 'Drove off Road' was the most common, listed for 66 vehicles. This was followed by 'Following too Close / ACDA' for 59 vehicles and 'Failure to Yield' for 56 vehicles. 'Unsafe Speed' was a factor for 32 vehicles.

Crashes involving commercial trucks accounted for 21 incidents in 2021. Of these, 12 involved a semi-tractor trailer, while 9 involved other types of commercial vehicles.

A total of 10 crashes involved a motorcyclist or a vulnerable road user. Nine of these incidents involved a motorcyclist, and one involved a pedestrian. No crashes were recorded involving a bicyclist.

There were 88 crashes involving animals reported in the county. The vast majority of these, 84 incidents, specifically involved deer. The remaining 4 crashes were attributed to other, unspecified animals.

Impairment was a factor in 34 crashes, representing 7% of all incidents. Of these, alcohol was suspected in 27 cases, drugs in 4 cases, and a combination of alcohol and drugs in 3 cases.

Beyond impairment, other driver conditions were noted in a minority of cases. Of 684 drivers, 26 were identified as being under the influence, 8 were noted as having fallen asleep or being fatigued, and 7 had a physical impairment. An emotional state such as anger or distress was noted for 5 drivers.

Among the 684 drivers involved in crashes, a specific distraction was identified for 46 of them. The most common distraction was an unspecified factor inside the vehicle, noted for 31 drivers, followed by a distraction outside the vehicle for 12 drivers. Two drivers were documented as manually operating an electronic communication device.

While most crashes occurred on straight and level road segments (314 incidents), a notable number happened on more complex alignments. A total of 125 crashes (25.9%) occurred on curves, including 64 on graded curves and 61 on level curves. Road grade was a feature in 107 crashes, both on straight sections and curves.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in a few key areas. The City of Coshocton accounted for the largest share, with 169 crashes, or 35% of the county's total. The townships of Lafayette and Tuscarawas followed with 47 and 45 crashes, respectively.

Analysis of the actions of 730 vehicles prior to collision shows that the majority were engaged in basic driving maneuvers. A total of 489 vehicles were proceeding straight ahead, while 50 were negotiating a curve. Making a left turn was the pre-crash action for 49 vehicles.

The most frequent type of crash was a single-vehicle incident, categorized as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' which accounted for 280 crashes or 58% of the total. Among multi-vehicle crashes, rear-end collisions were the most common, with 72 incidents (14.9%), followed by angle collisions with 69 incidents (14.3%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, with 278 units, followed by Sport Utility Vehicles at 204 units and Pick-up trucks at 153 units. Combined, these three categories represent 86.3% of all 730 vehicles in crashes. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors and single unit trucks, were involved in 23 instances.

Of the 832 individuals involved in crashes, the vast majority were drivers, accounting for 684 people (82.2%). An additional 147 people (17.7%) were vehicle occupants or passengers. One pedestrian was involved in a crash during this period.

Out of 832 people involved in crashes, 133 sustained some level of injury. This includes 9 individuals with fatal injuries (1.1% of all persons) and 124 with non-fatal injuries ranging from serious to possible (14.9%). The majority of people involved, 691 individuals or 83.1%, were not injured.

Among 831 individuals for whom safety equipment use was documented, 721 were recorded as using a shoulder and lap belt. However, 39 individuals were documented as using no safety equipment at all. An additional 14 people used only a shoulder belt.

The data shows a near-even split between single-vehicle and multi-vehicle crashes. Single-vehicle crashes were slightly more common, accounting for 256 incidents or 53% of the total. Two-vehicle crashes numbered 210, representing 43.5% of all incidents, while crashes involving three or more vehicles were rare.