19,520 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
MARCH 2021

Of the 102 total fatalities, 91 were motorists, and 11 were pedestrians. Among the 7,414 people injured, 7,234 were motorists and 180 were pedestrians. No cyclists were killed or injured in crashes during this period. Motorists comprised the largest group for both fatalities and injuries.

Crash frequency peaked midweek, with Wednesday recording the highest number of incidents at 3,322. The single busiest hour for crashes was from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., which saw 1,665 events. Overall, crashes were most common during daylight hours, which accounted for 12,768 incidents, more than double the 5,535 crashes that occurred in dark conditions.

The vast majority of crashes (72.9%) resulted in no injuries, involving only property damage. Injury-related crashes accounted for 26.7% of the total, broken down into serious injuries (2.6%), minor injuries (13.1%), and possible injuries (11.0%). There were 86 fatal crashes, which resulted in a total of 102 fatalities, indicating some crashes involved more than one death.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 86 fatal crash events resulted in 102 persons killed.

A substantial majority of crashes occurred under ideal driving conditions. Approximately 65.4% of incidents happened in daylight, 87.9% on dry road surfaces, and 72.3% in clear weather. Crashes during adverse weather were less frequent, with 1,406 incidents reported during rain and 32 during snow.

Among all individuals involved in crashes, the 26-34 age group was the most represented, with 7,104 persons recorded. Analysis of the 35,273 vehicles involved shows that Chevrolet was the most frequent make, with 5,370 vehicles, followed by Ford with 5,123 and Honda with 2,943. Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes.

The vast majority of crashes, 16,191 incidents, occurred on the primary roadway. However, a notable number of crashes involved a vehicle leaving the travel lanes as the first harmful event. These run-off-road incidents included 1,593 crashes on the roadside, 682 on the shoulder, and 121 in the median, collectively accounting for 12.3% of all crashes.

Among the 35,039 traffic control devices noted for vehicles in crashes, the most common situation was 'No Control,' recorded for 22,558 units. Signalized intersections were the next most frequent location, with 9,428 units involved in crashes at traffic signals. Crashes at stop signs involved 2,562 units.

Analysis of driver actions shows that 'Following too Close / ACDA' was the most cited contributing factor, attributed to 4,236 drivers. 'Failure to Yield' was the second most common factor with 2,869 instances, followed by 'Drove off Road' which was noted for 1,871 drivers. These three factors represent the most frequent improper driver actions leading to crashes.

Crashes involved 1,526 commercial trucks, a category with high-severity potential. Of these, 870 were semi-tractor-trailers, while the remaining 656 were classified as other types of commercial vehicles. These incidents represent a significant portion of truck-related traffic events for the month.

A total of 558 crashes involved either a vulnerable road user or a motorcyclist. Motorcyclists were the largest group with 286 involvements. Combined, pedestrians and bicyclists, classified as vulnerable road users, were involved in 272 crashes (190 pedestrians and 82 bicyclists).

Crashes involving animals accounted for 1,232 incidents, or 6.3% of all crashes in this period. The vast majority of these were strikes with deer, which were involved in 1,124 crashes. An additional 108 crashes involved other, unspecified types of animals.

Impairment was a factor in 1,231 crashes, representing 6.3% of the total. Alcohol was the most frequently cited substance, involved in 837 incidents. An additional 247 crashes involved drugs, and 147 crashes involved a combination of both alcohol and drugs.

Excluding drivers listed as 'Apparently Normal,' several adverse conditions were noted. A total of 1,007 drivers were identified as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. Other notable conditions included 207 drivers who fell asleep or were fatigued, 185 with a physical impairment, and 152 who were reported as being emotional (e.g., angry, depressed).

Among the 31,173 drivers with a known distraction status, several specific distractions were identified. Electronic devices were a notable factor, with 187 drivers manually operating a device, 147 engaged in other electronic device activity, and 39 talking on a hand-held phone. Other distractions included 547 drivers distracted by something inside the vehicle and 383 by something outside the vehicle.

The roadway geometry was straight and level for 14,946 crashes, representing the majority of incidents. However, road alignment involving a curve or grade was a factor in a significant number of crashes. A total of 1,744 crashes (8.9%) occurred on a curve, while 3,589 crashes (18.4%) occurred on a grade.

The geographic distribution of crashes was heavily concentrated in Ohio's major metropolitan areas. The top three cities—Cincinnati (1,171), Columbus (1,137), and Cleveland (1,097)—collectively accounted for 3,405 crashes, representing 17.4% of the statewide total. Union Township (224) and Springfield Township (221) were the next highest municipalities.

Analysis of what vehicles were doing just before a crash shows that moving 'Straight Ahead' was the most common action, reported for 18,729 vehicles, or 53.1% of all units with a known pre-crash maneuver. The next most frequent action was 'Slowing or Stopped In Traffic,' which accounted for 5,017 vehicles (14.2%). Making a left turn was the action for 2,971 vehicles (8.4%).

The most common crash patterns involved two vehicles. Angle collisions were the most frequent type, accounting for 4,655 incidents or 23.8% of all crashes. This was closely followed by rear-end collisions, which numbered 4,594, or 23.5% of the total. Single-vehicle crashes, categorized as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' comprised 32.3% of all incidents.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 18,105 of the 35,273 vehicles, or 51.3%. Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) were the second most common at 7,923 (22.5%). Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors, single-unit trucks, and buses, were involved in 2,032 instances, making up 5.8% of all vehicles in crashes.

A total of 43,418 people were involved in crashes during this period. The majority of these individuals were drivers, who accounted for 32,632 people, or 75.2% of the total. Vehicle occupants (passengers) were the next largest group, with 10,582 individuals (24.4%), while pedestrians made up a smaller portion with 204 people (0.5%).

Of the 43,418 people involved in crashes, 79.6% (34,545 individuals) sustained no injuries. A total of 7,414 people were injured, representing 17.1% of all persons involved. Fatalities were recorded for 102 individuals, which constitutes 0.2% of all people involved in crashes during this period.

Among the 43,418 individuals involved in crashes, usage of safety equipment was widely reported, with 33,484 people using a shoulder and lap belt. However, 2,355 individuals, or 5.4% of all participants, were recorded as using no safety equipment at all. This figure includes both vehicle occupants and other non-motorists.

The majority of crashes involved two vehicles, with 13,305 incidents (68.2%) falling into this category. Single-vehicle crashes were the next most common, with 5,108 incidents, representing 26.2% of the total. Multi-vehicle crashes involving three or more units were less frequent, though one crash involved as many as 10 vehicles.