6,138 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

In 2021, motorists comprised the vast majority of those killed or injured in crashes, with 39 fatalities and 2,320 injuries. One pedestrian was killed and 35 were injured in 37 separate incidents. No cyclists were killed or injured in the 25 bicycle-involved crashes recorded.

Crash analysis reveals distinct temporal patterns, with Friday being the most frequent day for incidents, recording 1,034 crashes. The evening commute period, specifically the 5 p.m. hour, saw the highest volume with 539 crashes. A majority of collisions, 3,943 in total, occurred during daylight hours.

The vast majority of crashes, 4,494 or 73.2%, resulted in no injuries. Injury-sustaining crashes accounted for 26.2% of the total, including 186 serious injury crashes and 1,422 minor or possible injury crashes. A total of 36 separate crashes were fatal, which collectively resulted in 40 deaths.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 36 fatal crash events resulted in 40 persons killed.

Most crashes in 2021 occurred under ideal driving conditions. Specifically, 3,842 crashes happened in clear weather, 4,844 on dry road surfaces, and 3,943 during daylight hours. Adverse conditions were less frequent, with 561 crashes occurring during rain and 974 on wet roads.

Among the 14,102 people involved in crashes, the 26-34 age group was the most represented, with 2,244 individuals. Analysis of the 11,002 vehicles involved shows that Ford was the most common make with 2,276 vehicles, followed by Chevrolet with 1,632 and Honda with 698.

The initial point of impact for most crashes was on the primary roadway, accounting for 5,193 incidents. A significant number of crashes, 701 in total, were run-off-road events where the first harmful event occurred on the roadside (456), shoulder (196), or in the median (49).

Data on traffic control devices present at crash locations shows that a majority of involved vehicles, 6,556, were in areas with no traffic controls. A substantial number of vehicles were also involved in crashes at signalized intersections (3,302) and locations with stop signs (958).

The most frequently cited contributing factor for drivers in crashes was 'Following too Close / ACDA,' attributed to 1,679 vehicles. 'Failure to Yield' was the second most common factor, noted for 881 vehicles, followed by 'Drove off Road' for 603 vehicles.

Crashes involving commercial trucks were a notable factor in 2021. A total of 361 commercial vehicles were involved in collisions, including 211 semi-tractor trailers and 150 other types of commercial vehicles.

In total, 177 crashes involved motorcyclists, pedestrians, or bicyclists. Vulnerable road users, defined as pedestrians and bicyclists, were involved in 62 of these incidents (37 pedestrian, 25 bicyclist). Motorcyclists were involved in 115 crashes.

There were 441 crashes involving animals in 2021. The vast majority of these incidents, 415 crashes, were strikes involving deer. An additional 26 crashes involved other types of animals.

Impairment was a factor in 446 crashes, representing 7.3% of the total. Among these, alcohol was suspected in 288 incidents, drugs in 94, and a combination of alcohol and drugs in 64.

Excluding drivers noted as 'Apparently Normal,' 535 drivers were recorded with a specific adverse condition. The most common was being 'Under the Influence of Medications / Drugs / Alcohol,' with 352 drivers. Other noted conditions included fatigue or falling asleep (72 drivers) and physical impairment (41 drivers).

Among drivers for whom a distraction was noted, the most common issues were internal and external distractions, with 160 and 69 incidents respectively. The use of electronic devices was also a factor, with 44 drivers manually operating a device and 43 engaged in other electronic device activity.

The roadway geometry was straight and level for the majority of crashes (5,198). However, a notable number of incidents occurred on non-level or curved roads. Crashes on grades (both straight and curved) accounted for 614 incidents, while crashes on curves (both level and graded) accounted for 455 incidents.

The geographic distribution of crashes across Lorain County shows the highest volumes in its largest cities. Elyria recorded the most crashes with 1,477, followed by Lorain with 1,183. Other significant locations included Avon (601 crashes), Amherst (523), and North Ridgeville (507).

Analysis of vehicle actions prior to collision shows that most vehicles (5,746) were moving straight ahead. The second most common pre-crash action was slowing or stopping in traffic, which was reported for 2,029 vehicles. Making a left turn was the third most frequent action, involving 937 vehicles.

The most common type of crash was a single-vehicle incident not involving another moving vehicle, accounting for 2,091 crashes or 34.1% of the total. The second most frequent crash type was a rear-end collision, with 1,720 incidents representing 28.0% of all crashes.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, with 5,340 units, followed by 2,803 Sport Utility Vehicles. Commercial vehicles also had a presence, with 247 semi-tractors, 195 cargo vans, and 117 single-unit trucks involved in incidents throughout the year.

A total of 14,102 people were involved in crashes in 2021. The majority of these individuals were drivers (10,455), while 3,609 were vehicle occupants or passengers. A smaller but significant number, 38, were pedestrians.

Of the 14,102 people involved in crashes, 11,190 sustained no injuries. A total of 2,355 people were injured, including 240 with serious injuries, 988 with minor injuries, and 1,127 with possible injuries. Forty individuals sustained fatal injuries.

The majority of vehicle occupants, 11,528 people, were reported to have used a shoulder and lap belt. However, 793 individuals involved in crashes were recorded as having used no safety equipment at all. Another 508 occupants were secured in various child restraint systems.

Two-vehicle collisions were the most common scenario, accounting for 4,276 of the 6,138 total crashes. Single-vehicle crashes were the next most frequent, with 1,590 incidents. Multi-vehicle crashes involving three or more vehicles were less common, totaling 272 incidents.