4,671 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

In 2021, a total of 8 people were killed and 1,562 were injured in Warren County crashes. Motorists comprised the largest group of casualties, with 6 fatalities and 1,553 injuries. Critically, 2 pedestrians were killed and 9 were injured. No cyclists were killed or injured during this period.

Crash frequency in Warren County peaked on Tuesdays, which saw 747 incidents over the year. The single busiest hour for crashes was the 4 p.m. afternoon commute hour, with 429 recorded events. Overall, crashes occurred more frequently during daylight hours, which accounted for 3,162 incidents, compared to 1,462 crashes during dark, dawn, or dusk conditions.

The majority of crashes, 75.6% (3,533 incidents), resulted in no injuries and were classified as property-damage-only. Injury crashes of any severity accounted for 24.2% of the total, including 91 serious injury crashes and 7 fatal crashes. These 7 fatal collisions resulted in a total of 8 fatalities.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 7 fatal crash events resulted in 8 persons killed.

A majority of crashes in Warren County occurred in ideal driving conditions. Specifically, 73.7% of crashes (3,442) happened on dry roads, 67.7% (3,162) in daylight, and 56.4% (2,633) in clear weather. Adverse conditions were also a factor, with 644 crashes occurring during rain and 1,025 on wet road surfaces.

Among the 11,144 people involved in crashes, the 16-20 age group was the most represented, with 1,727 individuals. The most common vehicle makes involved in collisions were Ford (1,275 vehicles), Chevrolet (1,155 vehicles), and Honda (879 vehicles). Passenger cars were the most frequent vehicle type involved, accounting for 4,105 of the 8,319 total vehicles.

The vast majority of crashes, 3,793 incidents, had their first harmful event occur on the primary roadway. However, a notable number of crashes involved vehicles leaving the travel lanes. A combined 713 crashes, or 15.3% of the total, occurred on the roadside, shoulder, or in the median, indicating a significant pattern of run-off-road events.

Analysis of the 8,204 vehicle-level records with traffic control data shows that most crash-involved vehicles were at locations with no traffic control device, accounting for 4,999 units. Signalized intersections were the location for 2,588 vehicle involvements. Crashes at locations with stop signs involved 605 vehicles.

The most frequently cited contributing factor for drivers was 'Following too Close / ACDA,' listed in 1,370 instances. The second most common factor was 'Failure to Yield,' with 704 instances, followed by 'Drove off Road,' which was cited 562 times. These three factors represent the leading driver actions contributing to collisions.

Crashes involving commercial trucks were a notable component of the total, with 370 such involvements recorded. Of these, 214 involved a semi-tractor-trailer, while 156 involved other types of commercial vehicles. These incidents represent crashes with potentially higher severity and complexity.

In 2021, there were 97 crashes involving vulnerable road users or motorcyclists. Motorcyclists were involved in 77 of these crashes. Pedestrians were involved in 13 crashes and bicyclists in 7, for a combined total of 20 crashes involving the most vulnerable road users.

A total of 329 crashes were attributed to collisions with animals, accounting for 7.0% of all crashes in the county. The vast majority of these incidents, 310 crashes, involved deer. The remaining 19 crashes involved other, unspecified types of animals.

Impairment was a factor in 251 crashes, representing 5.4% of all incidents. Of these, alcohol was the sole factor in 156 cases, drugs were the sole factor in 52 cases, and a combination of alcohol and drugs was suspected in 43 cases. These figures should be considered a minimum, as impairment can be under-reported.

Excluding drivers noted as 'Apparently Normal,' a total of 332 drivers were recorded with a specific adverse condition. The most common condition was being 'Under the Influence of Medications / Drugs / Alcohol,' with 215 drivers. Other reported conditions included fatigue or falling asleep (49 drivers), emotional distress (23 drivers), and physical impairment (23 drivers).

Among drivers for whom a specific distraction was noted, the most common factor was an 'Other distraction inside the vehicle,' recorded for 160 drivers. This was followed by an 'Other distraction outside the vehicle' for 124 drivers. Electronic device use was also a factor, with 37 drivers 'Manually operating an electronic communication device' and 65 drivers engaged in 'Other activity with an electronic device.'

The roadway geometry was a factor in a significant portion of crashes. A total of 1,199 crashes, or 25.7% of all incidents, occurred on a grade, whether straight or curved. Additionally, 586 crashes (12.5% of the total) took place on a curve, highlighting elevated risk in these non-level and non-straight road segments.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in a few key areas. The township of Deerfield saw the highest number of crashes with 696, followed by the city of Franklin with 577 and the city of Mason with 571. Combined, these three municipalities accounted for 1,844 crashes, or 39.5% of the county's total.

Analysis of vehicle actions prior to collision shows that most were engaged in routine maneuvers. Of the 8,319 vehicles involved, 4,438 were proceeding 'Straight Ahead.' The second most common action was 'Slowing or Stopped In Traffic,' which applied to 1,614 vehicles, often preceding rear-end collisions.

The data reveals two dominant crash patterns in Warren County. Single-vehicle crashes, categorized as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' were the most common type, accounting for 1,481 incidents or 31.7% of the total. This was closely followed by 'Rear-end' collisions, which numbered 1,391, making up 29.8% of all crashes.

Passenger vehicles were the most common type involved in crashes, with 4,105 'Passenger Cars' and 2,023 'Sport Utility Vehicles' recorded. Pick-up trucks were also frequently involved, with 990 units. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors, single-unit trucks, and cargo vans, accounted for a combined 506 vehicles involved in crashes.

Of the 11,144 individuals involved in traffic crashes, the majority were drivers, accounting for 8,031 people (72.1%). Vehicle occupants or passengers made up the next largest group, with 3,100 individuals (27.8%). A small but significant number, 13 people, were involved as pedestrians.

Among the 11,144 people involved in crashes, 1,570 individuals (14.1%) were either injured or killed. This includes 8 fatalities, 109 serious injuries, 814 minor injuries, and 639 possible injuries. The vast majority, 9,511 people, sustained no apparent injury.

The use of safety equipment was widespread, with 9,480 individuals reported as using a shoulder and lap belt. However, 450 people involved in crashes were recorded as using no safety equipment at all, representing 4.1% of those with known equipment use. Additionally, 42 individuals were noted as using a helmet.

The most common type of crash was a two-vehicle collision, accounting for 3,064 incidents or 65.6% of the total. Single-vehicle crashes were also common, with 1,337 incidents making up 28.6% of all crashes. Multi-vehicle pile-ups were less frequent, though 234 crashes involved three vehicles and one crash involved as many as six vehicles.