385 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

All 5 fatalities and 159 injuries recorded in 2021 involved motorists, including vehicle drivers and occupants. The data reported no fatalities or injuries among pedestrians or cyclists during this period. Of the 164 total persons killed or injured, 5 were fatalities, 25 sustained serious injuries, and 134 had minor or possible injuries.

Crash frequency peaked on Saturdays, with 67 incidents recorded, and the most common time for crashes was the 3 p.m. hour, which saw 29 events. A majority of collisions, 227 out of 385, occurred during daylight hours. However, a significant number of crashes, 123, also occurred on unlighted roadways after dark.

Of the 385 total crashes, 68.3% (263 incidents) resulted in no injuries, involving only property damage. The remaining crashes involved some level of injury, including 20 with serious injuries, 73 with minor injuries, and 24 with possible injuries. There were 5 fatal crashes, which accounted for 1.3% of all collisions and resulted in 5 total fatalities.

The majority of crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 77.4% (298 crashes) on dry road surfaces and 62.1% (239 crashes) in clear weather. Similarly, 59.0% of incidents (227 crashes) took place in daylight. Adverse conditions were also present in a subset of crashes, with 65 incidents on wet roads, 37 during rain, and 123 on dark, unlighted roadways.

Among the 680 people involved in crashes, the 16-20 age group was the most represented with 96 individuals, followed by the 35-44 age group with 92 individuals. A total of 521 vehicles were involved in these incidents. The most frequent vehicle makes recorded were Ford (94 vehicles), Chevrolet (93 vehicles), and Dodge (45 vehicles).

The initial harmful event for 204 crashes, or 53% of the total, occurred on the primary roadway. A significant portion of incidents were run-off-road events, with 133 crashes (34.5%) having their first harmful event on the roadside, shoulder, or median. An additional 42 crashes (10.9%) occurred entirely outside the designated trafficway.

Analysis of the 520 vehicle records with traffic control data shows that a vast majority of incidents occurred at locations with no traffic control devices, accounting for 457 instances. Crashes at locations with stop signs were noted in 34 instances, while those at signalized intersections accounted for 23 instances. Only one crash was recorded in a roundabout.

Among driver-related actions contributing to crashes, unsafe speed was the most cited factor, recorded for 94 vehicles. The second most common factor was driving off the road, noted in 74 instances. Following too closely was the third-leading factor, contributing to 53 vehicle collisions.

Crashes involving commercial trucks accounted for 23 of the 385 total incidents, representing 6.0% of all crashes. Of these, 9 involved a semi-tractor trailer, and 14 involved other types of commercial vehicles, such as single-unit trucks or cargo vans. These incidents involved a total of 23 commercial vehicles.

Crashes involving animals were a notable factor, accounting for 63 of the 385 total incidents (16.4%). The vast majority of these, 61 crashes, were collisions with deer. An additional 2 crashes involved other, unspecified types of animals.

Impaired driving was a factor in 32 crashes, representing 8.3% of the total for the year. Among these, alcohol was a factor in 16 crashes, drugs were a factor in 13 crashes, and a combination of both alcohol and drugs was noted in 3 crashes. These figures represent a minimum baseline, as impairment may be under-reported.

Of the 502 drivers involved in crashes, 48 were recorded as being in a non-normal physical or mental state. The most common condition was driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication, which was noted for 32 drivers. An additional 10 drivers were reported to have fallen asleep, fainted, or been fatigued.

Among the 502 drivers involved in crashes, a specific distraction was identified for 26 individuals. The most common cited issues were other distractions inside the vehicle (10 drivers) and other distractions outside the vehicle (6 drivers). Manually operating an electronic communication device, such as texting or dialing, was recorded for 2 drivers.

Roadway geometry played a role in a significant share of crashes. Collisions on curves occurred in 120 instances, making up 31.2% of all crashes. Additionally, crashes on grades (uphill or downhill sections) were recorded in 119 instances, accounting for 30.9% of the total.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in several key areas. The township of Salisbury recorded the highest number of incidents with 78 crashes, followed by Pomeroy with 58 and Chester with 42. Together, these three areas accounted for 178 crashes, representing 46.2% of the county's total.

An analysis of the 521 vehicles involved shows that the most common pre-crash action was driving straight ahead, which was the case for 280 vehicles (53.7%). The second most frequent action was negotiating a curve, reported for 110 vehicles (21.1%). Slowing or stopping in traffic was the third most common action, noted for 41 vehicles.

The dominant crash type was single-vehicle incidents, categorized as "Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport," which accounted for 258 crashes or 67.0% of the total. Among multi-vehicle crashes, rear-end collisions were the most frequent, with 50 incidents representing 13.0% of all crashes. Angle collisions were the next most common type, with 30 occurrences.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 201 of the 521 vehicles (38.6%). Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) were the second most common with 152 vehicles (29.2%), followed by pickup trucks with 101 vehicles (19.4%). Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors, single-unit trucks, and cargo vans, were involved in 28 instances.

A total of 680 people were involved in crashes, with drivers being the most common type of person recorded. Of these individuals, 502 (73.8%) were drivers and 178 (26.2%) were vehicle occupants or passengers. The data for this period did not record any involved pedestrians or cyclists.

Of the 680 people involved in crashes, 164 sustained some level of injury or were killed, representing 24.1% of all individuals. This included 5 fatalities, 25 serious injuries, 99 minor injuries, and 35 possible injuries. The majority of people involved, 508 individuals, were not injured.

Among the 680 occupants involved in crashes, 498 were reported to have used both a shoulder and lap belt. However, 61 individuals, representing 9.0% of all persons, were recorded as not using any form of safety equipment. An additional 7 individuals used a helmet, and 18 were secured in child restraint systems or booster seats.