656 CRASHES IN
DOVER, OH
2021

In 2021, motorists accounted for all 5 fatalities and 185 injuries in crashes. One pedestrian was injured, while no pedestrians or cyclists were killed. There were no reported injuries to cyclists.

Crash data for 2021 indicates a peak in incidents on Tuesdays, with 110 crashes, and during the 2 PM hour, with 53 crashes. The majority of crashes, 388, occurred during daylight hours, while 231 crashes occurred during dark conditions (157 on unlighted roadways and 74 on lighted roadways).

In 2021, 78.5% of crashes in Dover resulted in no injuries, totaling 515 incidents. Injury-involved crashes, encompassing serious, minor, and possible injuries, accounted for 21.0% of the total. There were 3 fatal crash events, which resulted in 5 individual fatalities.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 3 fatal crash events resulted in 5 persons killed.

The majority of crashes in 2021 occurred under optimal conditions: 61.1% (401 crashes) in clear weather, 81.5% (535 crashes) on dry road surfaces, and 59.1% (388 crashes) during daylight hours. Conversely, 69 crashes occurred during adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, fog, or sleet, and 116 crashes occurred on wet, snowy, or icy road surfaces.

Analysis of vehicle makes involved in crashes shows Ford (188), Chevrolet (164), and Honda (122) as the most frequent. Among persons involved, the 26-34 age group had the highest representation with 199 individuals, followed by the 65+ age group with 187 individuals.

The majority of crashes, 490 incidents, occurred on the roadway itself. However, a significant portion, 154 crashes (23.5%), occurred off the primary travel lanes, including on the roadside (123), on the shoulder (19), in the median (4), and outside the trafficway (8).

The most frequent traffic control condition at crash locations was 'No Control', accounting for 756 incidents. Crashes at signalized intersections (Signal) totaled 199, while those at stop signs numbered 67. Overall, 73.4% of recorded traffic control instances were at uncontrolled locations, compared to 19.3% at signalized locations.

The most frequently cited contributing factors in crashes were 'Following too Close / ACDA' with 133 instances, 'Unsafe Speed' with 89 instances, and 'Drove off Road' with 54 instances. These factors represent 26.1%, 17.5%, and 10.6% respectively of explicitly identified contributing factors.

Crashes involving commercial vehicles totaled 58 incidents, representing 8.8% of all crashes. Of these, 32 involved Semi-Tractor Trailers and 26 involved other types of commercial vehicles.

Crashes involving vulnerable road users or motorcycles totaled 15 incidents, representing 2.3% of all crashes. This includes 12 motorcyclist-involved crashes and 3 pedestrian-involved crashes. There were no reported crashes involving bicyclists.

Animal-strike crashes accounted for 115 incidents, representing 17.5% of all crashes. The vast majority of these, 109 incidents, involved deer, with 6 incidents involving other types of animals.

Impairment was a factor in 52 crashes, representing 7.9% of all incidents. Alcohol was cited in 36 of these crashes, while drugs were a factor in 7, and a combination of alcohol and drugs in 9.

Among drivers involved in crashes, 65 instances of abnormal conditions were reported. This included 42 drivers under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol, 16 drivers who fell asleep, fainted, or were fatigued, and 4 drivers with physical impairments. These abnormal conditions collectively represent 6.6% of all recorded driver conditions.

Driver distraction was identified in 54 instances. The most common specific distractions included 'Other distraction inside the vehicle' (21), 'Other distraction outside the vehicle' (12), and 'Other activity with an electronic device' (9). These identified distractions account for 5.5% of all recorded driver conditions.

The majority of crashes, 486, occurred on straight level roadways. However, 12.0% (79 crashes) occurred on curves (42 on curve level, 37 on curve grade), and 19.5% (128 crashes) occurred on grades (91 on straight grade, 37 on curve grade), indicating elevated risk in these alignments.

Prior to crashing, the most common driver actions were proceeding 'Straight Ahead' (567 instances), 'Slowing or Stopped In Traffic' (144 instances), and 'Making Left Turn' (69 instances). These actions represent 52.8%, 13.4%, and 6.4% respectively of recorded pre-crash actions.

The most frequent manner of collision was 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport', accounting for 321 crashes or 48.9% of the total. Rear-end collisions were the next most common, with 128 incidents (19.5%), followed by angle collisions at 103 incidents (15.7%).

Passenger cars were the most frequently involved vehicle type, accounting for 447 out of 1036 total vehicles. Sport Utility Vehicles (273) and Pick up trucks (163) were also prominent. Commercial vehicles, including Semi-Tractors, Single Unit Trucks, and Cargo Vans, collectively represented 60 vehicles or 5.8% of all vehicles involved.

Drivers constituted the largest group of persons involved in crashes, with 988 individuals, representing 73.2% of all persons. Occupants accounted for 359 individuals (26.6%), while pedestrians were involved in 3 instances. No cyclists were recorded in this dataset.

Out of 1350 persons involved in crashes, 5 individuals sustained fatal injuries, representing 0.4% of all persons. An additional 186 persons sustained injuries of varying severity (16 serious, 107 minor, 63 possible), accounting for 13.8% of all persons. The majority, 1124 individuals, sustained no injuries.

The predominant safety equipment usage reported was 'Shoulder and Lap Belt Used', with 1116 instances. However, 'None Used' was reported for 68 individuals, representing 5.4% of those with known safety equipment status. Child restraint systems were used in 42 instances (28 forward-facing, 14 rear-facing).

Single-vehicle crashes accounted for 290 incidents, representing 44.2% of all crashes. Two-vehicle crashes were the most common, totaling 353 incidents or 53.8%. A small number of multi-vehicle incidents involved three vehicles (12 crashes) or four vehicles (1 crash).