1,127 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

Motorists accounted for the largest number of casualties, with 5 individuals killed and 301 injured in 2021. Critically, two pedestrians were killed and another two were injured in traffic crashes. No cyclists were killed or injured during this period.

Crashes occurred most frequently on Wednesdays (178 incidents) and Fridays (177 incidents). The single busiest hour for crashes was 2 p.m., with 81 events. While a majority of crashes happened in daylight (669 incidents), a substantial number, 346 crashes, occurred on unlit roadways after dark.

The vast majority of crashes, 79.1% (892 incidents), resulted in no injuries. Collisions involving injuries accounted for 20.9% of the total, while 7 crashes (0.6%) were fatal. These 7 fatal crashes resulted in a total of 7 fatalities.

Most crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 75.6% on dry roads and 54.7% in clear weather. Crashes in daylight accounted for 59.4% of the total (669 incidents). However, adverse conditions were also a factor, with 211 crashes on wet roads and 115 occurring during rain.

Among the 2,149 people involved in crashes, the 26-34 age group was the most represented demographic, with 327 individuals. The most frequent vehicle makes involved in these incidents were Ford (272 vehicles), Chevrolet (261 vehicles), and Honda (128 vehicles).

The initial point of impact for most crashes (777 incidents) was on the roadway itself. However, a significant number of incidents were run-off-road events, with 296 crashes (26.3% of the total) occurring on the roadside, shoulder, or in the median.

The majority of vehicles involved in crashes were at locations with no traffic control devices, accounting for 1,376 vehicle involvements. For comparison, 167 vehicles were involved in crashes at locations with traffic signals and 103 at intersections with stop signs.

Among contributing factors assigned to drivers, unsafe speed was the most common, cited for 237 vehicles. This was followed by following too closely (123 vehicles) and failure to yield (117 vehicles).

Commercial trucks were involved in 155 instances, representing 9.3% of all vehicles in crashes. Of these, 111 were semi-tractor trailers and 44 were other types of commercial vehicles.

In 2021, crashes involved 13 motorcyclists, 4 pedestrians, and 1 bicyclist. The 5 crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists are of particular concern due to the high risk of severe injury in such incidents.

Collisions with animals were a significant factor, comprising 221 incidents or 19.6% of all crashes in the county. The vast majority of these, 206 crashes, involved deer, highlighting a specific local traffic hazard.

Impairment was identified as a contributing factor in 74 crashes, representing 6.6% of the total. These incidents included 53 crashes linked to alcohol, 17 to drugs, and 4 involving a combination of both.

Beyond impairment, other driver conditions were noted in official reports. These included 15 drivers who reportedly fell asleep or were fatigued and 67 drivers who were under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol.

Among the 1,585 drivers involved in crashes, at least 58 were noted as being distracted. The most frequently recorded distractions were non-specific distractions inside the vehicle (23 drivers) and outside the vehicle (14 drivers). Seven drivers were documented as manually operating an electronic device.

While most crashes occurred on straight road segments, a notable portion happened on more complex geometry. Crashes on curves accounted for 22.8% of the total (257 incidents), and 36.6% of crashes (412 incidents) occurred on a grade.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in a few key areas. The City of Cambridge recorded the highest number with 457 incidents, followed by the townships of Jackson (113 crashes) and Center (68 crashes).

The most common action for vehicles immediately prior to a crash was proceeding straight ahead, which was the case for 1,032 vehicles. Other common pre-crash actions included negotiating a curve (153 vehicles) and slowing or being stopped in traffic (113 vehicles).

Single-vehicle incidents were the predominant crash type, with 670 crashes (59.4%) not involving a collision with another vehicle in transport. Among multi-vehicle crashes, the most common types were rear-end collisions (140 crashes) and angle collisions (139 crashes).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, with 637 units, followed by Sport Utility Vehicles (406 units) and Pick-up trucks (320 units). Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors and single-unit trucks, accounted for 177 of the vehicles involved.

Of the 2,149 people involved in crashes, the majority were drivers, accounting for 1,585 individuals (73.8%). Passengers comprised 560 individuals (26.1%), while a small number of incidents involved pedestrians (4 people).

Among the 2,149 individuals involved in crashes, 14.4% (310 people) sustained an injury or were killed. This total includes 7 fatalities, 23 serious injuries, and a combined 280 minor or possible injuries.

Analysis of safety equipment usage shows that 124 individuals involved in crashes were recorded as not using any form of restraint. In contrast, 1,746 people were documented as using a shoulder and lap belt.

Single-vehicle crashes were the most common scenario, accounting for 55.8% of all incidents (629 crashes). Collisions involving two vehicles were the next most frequent type, with 468 occurrences, while 30 crashes involved three or more vehicles.