20,188 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
FEBRUARY 2021

Motorists comprised the largest group of individuals killed or injured, with 53 fatalities and 6,131 injuries. Among vulnerable road users, 9 pedestrians were killed and 120 were injured. No bicyclists were killed or injured during this period. These figures highlight the severe outcomes for both vehicle occupants and unprotected individuals on the roadway.

Crash frequencies peaked on Wednesday with 3,302 incidents and during the 4 p.m. hour with 1,580 incidents. Collisions were most common during weekday daytime hours, with a notable surge during the afternoon commute between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. In contrast, the lowest volumes were recorded on weekends and during early morning hours, with the fewest crashes occurring at 4 a.m.

The vast majority of crashes (77.6%) were property-damage-only, with no reported injuries. Injury-involved crashes accounted for 22.0% of all incidents, including 1.5% with serious injuries. A total of 59 distinct crashes were fatal, which resulted in 62 total fatalities, indicating that some crashes involved more than one death.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 59 fatal crash events resulted in 62 persons killed.

A majority of crashes occurred in daylight (11,526 incidents) and on dry road surfaces (10,186 incidents). Clear weather was reported for 8,847 crashes. However, adverse conditions were also a significant factor, with 4,274 crashes occurring in snow and 3,786 on wet roadways. Crashes in darkness were also common, with 4,119 on lighted roadways and 3,100 on unlighted roads.

Among the 42,260 people involved in crashes, the 26-34 age group was the most represented, with 7,252 individuals. The most common vehicle makes involved in collisions were Chevrolet (5,429), Ford (5,111), and Honda (2,846). These three makes alone accounted for a significant portion of the 35,169 vehicles in reported incidents.

The first harmful event in most crashes, 15,647 incidents, occurred directly on the roadway. A notable portion, however, involved vehicles leaving the travel lanes. Specifically, 2,312 crashes occurred on the roadside, 992 on the shoulder, and 223 in the median, collectively accounting for over 17% of all incidents.

Of the 35,169 vehicles involved in crashes, a majority (23,375) were at locations with no traffic controls present. Crashes at intersections with traffic signals involved 8,610 vehicles, while those at stop signs involved 2,477 vehicles. A smaller number of incidents occurred at locations with roundabouts (187 vehicles) and yield signs (117 vehicles).

Among contributing factors cited for drivers, 'Following too Close / ACDA' was the most common, listed for 3,840 vehicles. 'Failure to Yield' was the second most frequent factor, attributed to 2,500 vehicles, followed by 'Drove off Road' for 2,386 vehicles. These three actions represent the most prevalent driver errors leading to collisions.

Crashes involving commercial trucks accounted for 1,710 incidents, representing approximately 8.5% of all crashes in February 2021. Among these, 1,016 involved a semi-tractor trailer, while the remaining 694 involved other types of commercial vehicles. This category is a key area of focus due to the potential for high-severity outcomes.

A total of 168 crashes involved vulnerable road users or motorcyclists. Pedestrians were involved in 132 of these incidents, while bicyclists were involved in 15. The combined 147 crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists represent a critical safety concern due to the high risk of severe injury or death for these unprotected individuals.

There were 910 crashes involving animals, accounting for approximately 4.5% of all reported incidents. The vast majority of these, 846 crashes, involved collisions with deer. An additional 64 crashes were attributed to collisions with other, unspecified animals.

Impairment was a factor in 1,059 crashes, or 5.2% of the total. Of these, alcohol was cited in 736 incidents, drugs in 194, and a combination of alcohol and drugs in 129. These figures represent a minimum baseline, as impairment can be under-reported in crash data.

While most drivers were recorded as 'Apparently Normal,' several adverse conditions were noted. A total of 872 drivers were documented as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. Additionally, 161 drivers were reported as having fallen asleep or being fatigued, and 160 were noted to have a physical impairment.

Among the 32,602 drivers involved in crashes, at least 1,028 were documented as being distracted. The most common sources of distraction included other activities inside the vehicle (397 drivers), distractions outside the vehicle (316 drivers), and manually operating or using an electronic device (224 drivers).

The majority of crashes (14,713) occurred on straight and level sections of roadway. However, road geometry played a role in a significant number of incidents. Crashes on curves accounted for 2,321 incidents, while 4,277 crashes occurred on a grade (either straight or curved), highlighting elevated risk in these areas.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in Ohio's major urban centers. The city of Cleveland recorded the most incidents with 1,167, followed by Cincinnati with 1,051 and Columbus with 946. Together, these three cities accounted for 3,164 crashes, representing 15.7% of the statewide total.

Analysis of the 35,169 vehicles involved shows that most were performing routine driving maneuvers before the collision. The most common pre-crash action was driving straight ahead, reported for 18,934 vehicles. The next most frequent actions were slowing or stopped in traffic (4,698 vehicles) and making a left turn (2,672 vehicles).

The most frequent type of crash was a single-vehicle incident, categorized as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' which accounted for 7,426 crashes (36.8%). Among multi-vehicle crashes, angle collisions were the most common, with 4,670 incidents (23.1%), followed closely by rear-end collisions with 4,191 incidents (20.8%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 17,620 of the 35,169 total units. Sport Utility Vehicles (7,983 units) and Pick-up trucks (4,317 units) were the next most frequent. Commercial vehicles, including 1,110 semi-tractors and 509 single-unit trucks, were also involved in a notable share of incidents.

Of the 42,260 individuals involved in crashes, the majority were drivers (32,602 people, or 77.1%). Passengers, classified as occupants, accounted for another 9,517 people (22.5%). A smaller but significant group consisted of 141 pedestrians involved in collisions.

Among the 42,260 people involved in crashes, 62 sustained fatal injuries and 6,251 sustained non-fatal injuries of varying severity. The majority of individuals, 34,583 people, were not injured. This indicates that while most people in crashes escape physical harm, a significant number suffer consequences ranging from minor to fatal.

Shoulder and lap belts were the most commonly used form of safety equipment, reported for 33,414 vehicle occupants. However, 1,973 occupants were recorded as having used no restraints at all. An additional 1,224 children were secured in various child restraint systems, including forward-facing, rear-facing, and booster seats.

Two-vehicle collisions were the most common crash configuration, accounting for 12,907 incidents (63.9% of the total). Single-vehicle crashes were the next most frequent type, with 6,330 incidents (31.4%). While less common, 950 crashes involved three or more vehicles, including three separate pile-ups that each involved eight vehicles.