30,809 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

Motorists represented the largest group of individuals killed or injured in 2021, with 107 fatalities and 13,005 injuries. Pedestrians were also significantly impacted, with 23 individuals killed and 345 injured in traffic crashes. According to the data, no cyclists were killed or injured during this period.

Crash frequency in Cuyahoga County peaked on Fridays, with 5,167 incidents recorded in 2021. The single busiest hour for crashes was the 4 p.m. hour, which saw 2,617 crashes. Overall, collisions were most common during daytime hours, with 20,159 crashes (65.4%) occurring in daylight conditions, aligning with the afternoon commuter rush between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The majority of crashes in 2021, 70.6% (21,741 incidents), resulted in no injuries and were property-damage-only. Crashes involving some level of injury accounted for 29.0% of the total. There were 122 fatal crashes, which resulted in a total of 130 fatalities, as a single crash can involve more than one death.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 122 fatal crash events resulted in 130 persons killed.

A majority of crashes occurred in favorable environmental conditions. In 2021, 60.7% of crashes (18,704) happened in clear weather, 76.1% (23,461) on dry road surfaces, and 65.4% (20,159) during daylight hours. Among adverse conditions, rain was a factor in 2,946 crashes, while 5,501 crashes occurred on wet roads.

Analysis of persons involved in crashes shows the 26-34 age group was the most represented, with 12,787 individuals. Among the 59,539 vehicles involved in collisions, passenger cars were the most common type (32,636). The most frequent vehicle makes were Chevrolet, involved in 7,129 instances, followed by Ford with 6,924, Toyota with 4,238, and Honda with 3,963.

The vast majority of crashes, 27,500 incidents, had their first harmful event occur on the primary roadway. A total of 1,832 crashes, or 5.9% of the total, originated off the main travel lanes. These included 877 crashes on the roadside, 778 on the shoulder, and 177 in the median.

Among all vehicles involved in crashes, the most common traffic control scenario was "No Control," which applied to 34,303 vehicles (57.6%). Traffic signals were present for 20,682 vehicles (34.7%) involved in collisions. Stop signs were the third most common control type, present for 3,389 vehicles.

The most frequently cited contributing factor for vehicles in crashes was "Following too Close / ACDA," attributed to 7,208 vehicles. This was followed by "Failure to Yield," which was a factor for 4,382 vehicles, and "Improper Lane Change," cited for 1,971 vehicles. Other significant factors included "Drove off Road" (1,506 vehicles) and "Ran Red Light" (1,202 vehicles).

A total of 2,158 commercial vehicles were involved in crashes in 2021. Of these, 1,464 were classified as "Other Commercial Vehicle" and 694 were "Semi-Tractor Trailer." These commercial trucks accounted for approximately 3.6% of all vehicles involved in collisions during the period.

Crashes in 2021 involved 1,009 motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists combined. Vulnerable road users, defined here as pedestrians and bicyclists, were involved in 621 of these incidents (383 pedestrians and 238 bicyclists). These crashes with pedestrians and bicyclists represent approximately 2.0% of all reported crashes.

There were 309 crashes involving animals reported in 2021, accounting for 1.0% of all crashes. The vast majority of these, 281 incidents, were collisions with deer. An additional 28 crashes involved other types of animals.

In 2021, 1,233 crashes, or 4.0% of the total, were noted to involve driver impairment. Among these incidents, alcohol was the sole factor in 901 cases, drugs were a factor in 180 cases, and a combination of alcohol and drugs was noted in 152 cases. These figures are based on officer suspicion or determination at the scene.

While most drivers were recorded as "Apparently Normal," a total of 1,883 drivers (3.5% of all drivers) were noted to have a specific adverse condition. The most common of these was driving "Under the Influence of Medications / Drugs / Alcohol," with 1,060 instances. Other recorded conditions included emotional distress (287 drivers), physical impairment (213 drivers), and falling asleep or fatigue (211 drivers).

A specific distraction was identified for 1,675 drivers, representing 3.1% of all drivers in the dataset. The most cited issues were general distractions from inside the vehicle (595 drivers) and outside the vehicle (565 drivers). Electronic device use was a factor for 350 drivers, including 183 who were manually operating a device and 167 engaged in other electronic device activity.

The majority of crashes (26,322) occurred on straight, level road segments. However, roadway geometry was a feature in a notable number of incidents. Crashes on a grade (either straight or curved) accounted for 3,167 incidents, while 1,770 crashes occurred on a curve (either level or on a grade), representing 5.7% of all crashes.

Crash incidents were heavily concentrated in the City of Cleveland, which recorded 15,279 crashes, representing 49.6% of the county's total. The next most impacted municipalities were Euclid with 910 crashes, Garfield Heights with 868, and Parma with 844. Together, the top five cities accounted for over 60% of all crashes in Cuyahoga County.

The most common pre-crash action for vehicles was "Straight Ahead," which was the case for 29,361 vehicles, or 49.3% of all units involved. The second most frequent action was "Slowing or Stopped In Traffic," recorded for 9,168 vehicles (15.4%). Making a left turn was the third most common maneuver, noted for 4,911 vehicles.

The most common type of collision was a rear-end crash, which accounted for 8,939 incidents, or 29.0% of all crashes. Angle collisions were the second most frequent type, with 7,514 incidents (24.4%). Crashes not involving a collision between two moving vehicles, such as striking a fixed object, represented 18.8% of the total.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 32,636 units or 54.8% of the total. Sport Utility Vehicles were the second most frequent, with 13,167 units involved. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors, single-unit trucks, buses, and cargo vans, collectively accounted for 2,832 vehicles, or 4.8% of all units in collisions.

Of the 72,512 people involved in crashes, the vast majority, 54,452 individuals (75.1%), were drivers. Vehicle occupants (passengers) constituted the next largest group, with 17,654 people (24.3%). Pedestrians were involved in a smaller but significant number of incidents, accounting for 406 of the total persons recorded.

Among the 72,512 individuals involved in traffic collisions, 13,350 people sustained some level of injury, representing 18.4% of all persons. This included 946 serious injuries, 4,211 minor injuries, and 8,193 possible injuries. A total of 130 individuals, or 0.18% of all persons involved, suffered fatal injuries.

The most commonly used safety equipment was the shoulder and lap belt, reported for 51,915 vehicle occupants. A total of 3,536 individuals were recorded as using no restraint system at the time of the crash. Additionally, various child restraint systems were in use, including 1,042 forward-facing seats and 517 rear-facing seats.

The most common incident type was a two-vehicle collision, with 24,033 such crashes recorded. Single-vehicle crashes accounted for 15.1% of the total, with 4,648 incidents. While less common, there were several large multi-vehicle pile-ups, including five crashes involving 8 vehicles and one crash involving 16 vehicles.