12,883 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

In 2021, motorists accounted for the largest number of casualties, with 60 individuals killed and 5,133 injured. Pedestrians also faced significant risk, with 14 fatalities and 142 injuries reported. According to the provided key performance indicators, there were no cyclists killed or injured in crashes during this period.

Crash frequency in Montgomery County peaked on Fridays, with 2,104 incidents recorded in 2021. The afternoon commute was the most common time for crashes, with the peak occurring in the 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. hours, each accounting for 1,110 crashes. Analysis of lighting conditions shows that the majority of crashes, 8,412 incidents, occurred during daylight hours.

Of the 12,883 crashes in 2021, the majority (71.0%) resulted in no injuries, involving only property damage. Crashes involving injuries accounted for 3,675 incidents, including 297 with serious injuries. The data documents 61 distinct fatal crashes, which resulted in a total of 74 fatalities, indicating some incidents involved more than one death.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 61 fatal crash events resulted in 74 persons killed.

The majority of crashes in Montgomery County occurred under clear driving conditions. Specifically, 65.3% of incidents (8,412) happened in daylight, 76.5% (9,853) on dry road surfaces, and 62.7% (8,079) in clear weather. Crashes in adverse conditions included 1,627 incidents during rain and 2,554 on wet roads.

Analysis of persons involved in crashes shows the 26-34 age group was the most represented, with 5,074 individuals, followed by the 35-44 age group with 4,220. Among the 24,558 vehicles involved, the most frequent makes were Chevrolet (4,439 vehicles), Ford (2,974 vehicles), and Honda (1,779 vehicles).

The vast majority of crashes, 11,145 incidents, had their first harmful event occur on the primary roadway. A total of 1,156 crashes were classified as run-off-road incidents, with the first harmful event occurring on the roadside (560), shoulder (500), or in the median (96).

Analysis of traffic controls where crashes occurred indicates that the most common situation involved 'No Control,' which was noted for 14,442 vehicles. Signalized intersections were the location for crashes involving 8,002 vehicles, while stop signs were present for 1,837 vehicles involved in crashes.

The most common driver action contributing to crashes was 'Following too Close / ACDA,' cited for 3,108 vehicles. This was followed by 'Failure to Yield' (2,054 vehicles) and 'Other Improper Action' (1,645 vehicles). Other significant factors included 'Drove off Road' (916 vehicles) and 'Improper Lane Change' (832 vehicles).

Crashes involving commercial trucks accounted for 786 incidents, or 6.1% of all crashes in 2021. Among these, 526 involved a semi-tractor trailer, while the remaining 260 involved other types of commercial vehicles.

Crashes involving vulnerable road users included 154 incidents with pedestrians and 68 with bicyclists, for a combined total of 222 crashes. An additional 174 crashes involved motorcyclists. In total, crashes with pedestrians and bicyclists represent 1.7% of all incidents in Montgomery County.

There were 231 crashes involving animals reported in 2021, making up 1.8% of the total crash volume. The vast majority of these incidents, 201 crashes, specifically involved collisions with deer, while the remaining 30 were attributed to other animals.

Impairment was a factor in 689 crashes, representing 5.3% of all incidents. Of these, alcohol was the sole factor in 451 cases, drugs were the factor in 139 cases, and a combination of alcohol and drugs was noted in 99 cases.

Beyond 'Apparently Normal,' several specific driver conditions were recorded for the 22,718 drivers involved in crashes. A total of 519 drivers were noted as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. Additionally, 107 drivers reportedly fell asleep or were fatigued, and 120 had a physical impairment.

Among drivers for whom a distraction was noted, the most common was 'Other distraction inside the vehicle,' recorded for 318 drivers. Use of electronic devices was a factor for at least 206 drivers, including 111 who were manually operating a device and 95 engaged in another activity with an electronic device.

While most crashes (10,034) occurred on straight, level sections of road, roadway geometry was a factor in a notable portion of incidents. Crashes on curves accounted for 980 incidents, or 7.6% of the total. Roadways with a grade were the location for 2,293 crashes, representing 17.8% of all crashes in the county.

The geographic distribution of crashes within Montgomery County is highly concentrated, with the City of Dayton accounting for 4,490 incidents, or 34.9% of the county's total. Other municipalities with high crash volumes include Huber Heights with 867 crashes, Harrison with 819 crashes, and Miami with 712 crashes.

The most common action by vehicles immediately prior to a crash was proceeding 'Straight Ahead,' which was the case for 12,745 vehicles, or 51.9% of all vehicles involved. The next most frequent pre-crash actions were 'Slowing or Stopped In Traffic' (3,548 vehicles) and 'Making Left Turn' (2,422 vehicles).

The most frequent type of collision was an 'Angle' crash, which accounted for 3,638 incidents or 28.2% of the total. This was followed closely by single-vehicle crashes, categorized as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport' (3,344 incidents, 26.0%), and 'Rear-end' collisions (3,324 incidents, 25.8%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 13,136 of the 24,558 vehicles (53.5%). Sport Utility Vehicles (5,305 vehicles) and Pick up trucks (2,584 vehicles) were also frequently involved. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors, single unit trucks, and buses, were involved in 863 instances.

A total of 30,830 people were involved in traffic crashes in 2021. The majority of these individuals were drivers, accounting for 22,718 people or 73.7% of the total. Vehicle occupants (passengers) represented another 7,948 people (25.8%), while 164 pedestrians were involved in crashes.

Of the 30,830 individuals involved in crashes, 5,275 sustained some level of injury, representing 17.1% of all persons involved. This includes 368 people with serious injuries and 74 who were fatally injured. The vast majority of people involved, 24,305 individuals, were not injured.

Among the 30,830 participants in crashes, 23,183 were recorded as using a shoulder and lap belt. A total of 1,501 individuals were documented as using no safety equipment at the time of the crash. Additionally, various child restraint systems were in use, including 610 forward-facing seats and 301 rear-facing seats.

The most common crash scenario involved two vehicles, accounting for 9,472 incidents or 73.5% of the total. Single-vehicle crashes were the next most frequent, with 2,422 incidents (18.8%). The data also includes several multi-vehicle pile-ups, with 817 crashes involving three vehicles and one incident involving as many as 10 vehicles.