1,282 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

In 2021, motorists accounted for all 11 traffic fatalities and 479 of the 490 total injuries in Pickaway County. While there were no pedestrian or cyclist fatalities, 11 pedestrians were injured in crashes. No injuries were recorded for cyclists during this period.

Crash patterns in Pickaway County during 2021 show a clear peak on Fridays, which saw 211 incidents. The most common time for crashes was the 4 p.m. hour with 109 occurrences, aligning with the evening commute. A majority of crashes, 774 out of 1,282, happened during daylight hours.

The majority of crashes in 2021 were property-damage-only, with 923 incidents (72.0%) resulting in no injuries. Injury-involved crashes, ranging from possible to serious, accounted for 348 collisions. There were 11 fatal crashes, which resulted in a total of 11 fatalities.

The vast majority of crashes occurred in ideal driving conditions, with 77.7% of incidents (996) happening on dry roads and 62.9% (806) in clear weather. Most crashes, 774 out of 1,282, also occurred during daylight hours. Crashes in adverse weather included 123 in rain and 42 in snow.

Analysis of the 2,688 individuals involved in crashes shows the 26-34 age group was the most represented, with 412 people, followed by the 35-44 age group with 377 people. Among the 2,100 vehicles involved, the most frequent makes were Ford (339), Chevrolet (331), and Honda (203).

The initial harmful event in most crashes (1,002 out of 1,282) occurred on the roadway itself. However, a notable 247 crashes, or 19.3% of the total, were run-off-road incidents. These include 110 crashes originating on the roadside, 81 on the shoulder, and 45 outside the designated trafficway.

Among vehicles involved in crashes, the majority (1,436 units) were at locations with no traffic control device present. Crashes at signalized intersections involved 418 vehicles, while those at locations with stop signs involved 209 vehicles. A small number of vehicles were involved in crashes at locations with yield signs (13), flashers (5), or roundabouts (5).

The most commonly cited contributing factors for drivers involved in crashes were 'Following too Close / ACDA' (225 instances), 'Drove off Road' (223 instances), and 'Failure to Yield' (214 instances). Other significant factors included 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Improper Lane Change', each cited for 47 drivers.

Crashes involving commercial trucks accounted for 110 incidents, representing 8.6% of all crashes in 2021. Among these, 76 crashes involved a semi-tractor trailer, while the remaining 34 involved other types of commercial vehicles.

In 2021, there were 40 crashes involving vulnerable road users or motorcyclists. This included 26 motorcycle crashes, 10 pedestrian-involved crashes, and 4 bicycle-involved crashes. Combined, incidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists accounted for 14 crashes, or 1.1% of the total.

Animal-related collisions were a significant factor, accounting for 153 crashes, or 11.9% of the total for the year. The vast majority of these, 145 incidents, involved collisions with deer. An additional 8 crashes involved other types of animals.

Impairment was a factor in 62 crashes, representing 4.8% of all incidents in 2021. Among these, impairment by drugs was cited in 26 crashes, alcohol in 25 crashes, and a combination of alcohol and drugs in 11 crashes. These figures represent a minimum, as impairment can be under-reported.

Beyond 'Apparently Normal' condition, specific driver states were noted for 99 of the 2,006 drivers involved in crashes. The most common condition was being 'Under the Influence of Medications / Drugs / Alcohol,' reported for 54 drivers. An additional 26 drivers were noted as having 'Fell Asleep; Fainted; Fatigued,' and 10 had a 'Physical Impairment'.

Driver distraction was identified as a factor for 123 drivers, while 1,719 were explicitly noted as not distracted. The most cited issues were 'Other distraction inside the vehicle' (54 drivers) and 'Other distraction outside the vehicle' (36 drivers). Manually operating an electronic communication device was a factor for 14 drivers.

While most crashes (955) occurred on straight, level roads, roadway geometry played a role in a subset of incidents. Crashes on curves accounted for 116 collisions, or 9.0% of the total. Roadways with a grade were the site of 252 crashes, representing 19.7% of all incidents.

The geographic distribution of crashes within Pickaway County was concentrated in several key areas. The City of Circleville saw the highest volume, with 354 crashes, accounting for 27.6% of the county's total. Following Circleville were the townships of Harrison (147 crashes), Pickaway (117 crashes), and Darby (91 crashes).

The most common pre-crash action for vehicles was 'Straight Ahead,' which described the movement of 1,264 vehicles, or 60.2% of the total. The second most frequent action was 'Slowing or Stopped In Traffic,' noted for 233 vehicles. 'Making Left Turn' was the third most common action, involving 152 vehicles.

The most common type of crash was a single-vehicle incident, categorized as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' which accounted for 550 crashes or 42.9% of the total. Among multi-vehicle collisions, rear-end crashes were the most frequent, with 254 incidents (19.8%), followed by angle collisions with 233 incidents (18.2%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 1,020 of the 2,100 vehicles. Sport utility vehicles (374) and pickup trucks (366) were also frequently involved. Commercial vehicles, including 81 semi-tractors and 38 single-unit trucks, comprised a smaller but notable portion of the vehicles in collisions.

Of the 2,688 individuals involved in crashes, the vast majority were drivers, accounting for 2,006 people or 74.6% of the total. Vehicle occupants (passengers) made up the next largest group with 670 individuals. A smaller group of 12 pedestrians were also involved in these traffic incidents.

A total of 2,688 people were involved in crashes, with 501 of them sustaining an injury or being killed. This includes 11 fatalities, 55 serious injuries, 255 minor injuries, and 180 possible injuries. The remaining 2,141 individuals were not injured.

Among the 2,676 vehicle occupants for whom safety equipment use was recorded, 2,070 were noted as using both a shoulder and lap belt. However, 255 individuals, or 9.5% of the total with available data, were reported as using no safety equipment at all. An additional 75 occupants used only a shoulder belt and 38 used only a lap belt.

The majority of crashes, 711 out of 1,282 (55.5%), involved two vehicles. Single-vehicle crashes were also very common, accounting for 521 incidents or 40.6% of the total. Crashes involving three or more vehicles were less frequent, with 44 incidents involving three vehicles and 6 involving four or more.