786 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

Of the 10 total fatalities, 9 were motorists and 1 was a pedestrian. All 343 non-fatal injuries recorded were sustained by motorists. No bicyclists were reported as being killed or injured in traffic crashes during this period.

Crashes occurred most frequently on Fridays, with 133 incidents recorded. The single hour with the most crashes was the 4 p.m. hour, which saw 76 crashes, indicating a peak during the afternoon commute. Overall, 64.4% of all crashes happened during daylight hours.

The majority of crashes, 548 incidents or 69.7%, resulted in no injuries and were classified as property-damage-only. Crashes involving injuries accounted for 29.1% of the total, with 33 serious injury, 133 minor injury, and 63 possible injury crashes. The 9 fatal crashes recorded during the year resulted in a total of 10 fatalities.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 9 fatal crash events resulted in 10 persons killed.

The majority of crashes occurred in ideal driving conditions, with 67.4% happening in clear weather and 79.3% on dry road surfaces. Crashes during daylight hours accounted for 64.4% of the total. For comparison, 82 crashes occurred during rain, 133 on wet roads, and 226 took place in dark conditions.

Among the 1,632 people involved in crashes, the most represented age groups were 26-34 years old (229 people), 16-20 years old (224 people), and 35-44 years old (224 people). The top three vehicle makes involved in crashes were Chevrolet (298 vehicles), Ford (223 vehicles), and Dodge (90 vehicles).

While 528 crashes (67.2%) had their first harmful event on the roadway, a significant number occurred off the main travel lanes. In total, 253 crashes, or 32.2% of all incidents, were classified as run-off-road events, with the first harmful event taking place on the roadside or shoulder.

Analysis of the 1,258 vehicles involved in crashes shows that most incidents occurred at uncontrolled locations. Approximately 74.9% of vehicles were in crashes where no traffic control device was present. In contrast, 14.1% of vehicles were at locations with a traffic signal, and 9.9% were at locations with a stop sign.

Among driver-related actions contributing to crashes, the most frequently cited was 'Drove off Road,' attributed to 163 vehicle units. This was followed by 'Following too Close / ACDA' with 140 units and 'Failure to Yield' with 124 units. These top three factors represent common driver errors leading to collisions.

A total of 31 crashes involved a commercial truck. Of these incidents, 17 involved a semi-tractor trailer, while the remaining 14 involved other types of commercial vehicles such as single-unit trucks or cargo vans.

There were 17 crashes involving motorcyclists, pedestrians, or bicyclists. Motorcyclists were involved in 15 of these crashes. The remaining incidents included one crash involving a pedestrian and one involving a bicyclist.

Animal strikes were a factor in 74 crashes, representing 9.4% of all incidents. Collisions with deer were the most common type, accounting for 64 of these crashes, while other animals were involved in the remaining 10 incidents.

Impairment was identified as a factor in 55 crashes, or 7.0% of the total. Alcohol was a factor in 32 of these crashes, drugs were involved in 19, and a combination of alcohol and drugs was noted in 4 cases.

Beyond impairment, other driver conditions were noted in a smaller number of cases. Among 1,202 drivers, 13 were reported as having fallen asleep or being fatigued, and 8 were noted for illness at the time of the crash. An additional 46 drivers were listed as under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol.

Among the 1,202 drivers involved in crashes, a specific distraction was identified for 104 of them. The most cited issues were 'other distraction inside the vehicle' (55 drivers) and 'other distraction outside the vehicle' (25 drivers). A total of 22 drivers were distracted by some form of electronic device.

While 69% of crashes occurred on straight road segments, roadway geometry played a role in a significant number of incidents. Crashes on a grade (uphill or downhill) accounted for 33.0% of the total (259 crashes). Crashes occurring on a curve made up 18.3% of all incidents (144 crashes).

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in a few key areas. The township of Hillsboro saw the highest volume, with 240 crashes representing 30.5% of the county total. Liberty followed with 115 crashes (14.6%), and Paint township accounted for 70 crashes (8.9%).

The most common action for vehicles just before a crash was driving straight ahead, which was the case for 680 vehicles (54.1% of all units involved). Other frequent pre-crash actions included slowing or stopping in traffic (152 vehicles) and negotiating a curve (133 vehicles).

Single-vehicle incidents, classified as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' were the most frequent crash type, comprising 375 crashes or 47.7% of the total. Among multi-vehicle crashes, angle collisions (149 incidents) and rear-end collisions (148 incidents) were the most common.

Passenger cars were the most prevalent vehicle type in crashes, with 592 units involved. Sport Utility Vehicles (264 units) and pick-up trucks (257 units) were the next most common, reflecting the typical vehicle fleet on the road.

Of the 1,632 individuals involved in crashes, the vast majority were vehicle occupants. Drivers constituted 73.7% of the total (1,202 people), while passengers made up another 26.3% (429 people). A single pedestrian was also involved in a crash during this period.

Among all 1,632 people involved in crashes, 21.6% suffered some level of injury. This includes 10 individuals who were fatally injured, 46 with serious injuries, 200 with minor injuries, and 97 with possible injuries. The remaining 1,269 people were not injured.

Data on safety equipment use was recorded for 1,631 vehicle occupants. Of these, 113 people, or 6.9% of the total, were reportedly not using any form of restraint. The majority of occupants (1,300 people) were documented as using a shoulder and lap belt.

Two-vehicle crashes were the most common configuration, accounting for 419 incidents or 53.3% of the total. Single-vehicle crashes were also very common, making up 43.4% of all crashes with 341 incidents. Crashes involving three or more vehicles were rare, accounting for just over 3% of the total.