1,828 CRASHES IN
OHIO, OH
2021

In 2021, motorists accounted for all 19 traffic fatalities and 743 of the 758 total injuries in Wayne County. While no pedestrians or cyclists were killed, 15 pedestrians were injured in crashes. There were no cyclist injuries reported in the data for this period.

Crash occurrences in Wayne County peaked on Fridays, with 301 incidents, and during the 3 p.m. hour, which saw 167 crashes. The data shows a strong daytime pattern, with 1,216 crashes (66.5%) occurring in daylight conditions. The months with the highest crash volumes were October (203) and November (197).

Of the 1,828 crashes, 70.1% resulted in no injuries, being classified as property-damage-only events. The remaining 29.1% involved at least a possible injury. There were 16 distinct fatal crashes, which resulted in a total of 19 fatalities, indicating some crashes involved multiple deaths.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 16 fatal crash events resulted in 19 persons killed.

The majority of crashes occurred in favorable conditions, with 74.3% on dry roads, 66.5% in daylight, and 56.6% in clear weather. Adverse weather was a factor in a smaller subset of incidents, with 173 crashes occurring during rain and 104 during snow. Similarly, 338 crashes happened on wet road surfaces.

Among the 3,833 people involved in crashes, the most represented age groups were 16-20 years old (562 individuals) and 26-34 years old (549 individuals). Of the 2,972 vehicles involved, the most frequent makes were Chevrolet (515), Ford (498), Honda (231), and Toyota (213).

The first harmful event in most crashes (1,320) occurred on the primary roadway. However, a notable number of incidents were run-off-road events, with a combined 486 crashes originating on the roadside (371), shoulder (62), in the median (24), or outside the trafficway (29). This represents 26.6% of all crashes.

The vast majority of vehicles involved in crashes were at locations with no traffic control device present (2,219 units). Crashes at signalized intersections involved 383 vehicles, while those at intersections with stop signs involved 324 vehicles. A small number of vehicles were involved in crashes at locations with yield signs (12) or roundabouts (8).

The most commonly cited contributing factors for drivers were 'Following too Close / ACDA' (341 units), 'Failure to Yield' (287 units), and 'Drove off Road' (277 units). Unsafe speed was also a significant factor, cited for 158 vehicle units involved in crashes.

Crashes involving commercial trucks were notable, with 211 such incidents recorded. Of these, 124 involved a semi-tractor trailer and 87 involved other types of commercial vehicles. These crashes represent approximately 11.5% of all incidents in the county.

A total of 50 crashes involved vulnerable road users or motorcyclists. This included 29 crashes with motorcyclists, 15 with pedestrians, and 6 with bicyclists. Combined, crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists accounted for 21 incidents, or about 1.1% of all crashes.

Animal strikes accounted for 167 crashes, representing 9.1% of the total for the year. The vast majority of these incidents, 150 crashes, involved collisions with deer. An additional 17 crashes were attributed to collisions with other unspecified animals.

Impairment was a factor in 89 crashes, accounting for 4.9% of all incidents. Among these, alcohol was suspected in 68 cases, drugs in 12 cases, and a combination of alcohol and drugs in 9 cases. These figures represent a minimum, as impairment can be under-reported.

While most drivers (2,645) were listed as 'Apparently Normal', a number of adverse conditions were noted. Eighty-six drivers were recorded as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. An additional 22 drivers were reported to have fallen asleep, fainted, or been fatigued, and 9 had a physical impairment.

Among the 2,870 drivers involved in crashes, 132 were noted as being distracted. The most common sources of distraction were 'Other distraction inside the vehicle' (57 drivers) and 'Other distraction outside the vehicle' (35 drivers). Electronic devices were a factor for 37 drivers, including 11 who were manually operating a device.

The majority of crashes (1,214) occurred on straight, level road segments. However, roadway geometry played a role in a significant number of incidents. Crashes on grades (both straight and curved) accounted for 530 incidents, or 29% of the total, while crashes on curves accounted for 151 incidents, or 8.3% of the total.

The geographic distribution of crashes was concentrated in a few key areas. The city of Wooster accounted for the largest share with 507 crashes, representing 27.7% of the county's total. Other significant locations included the townships of Chippewa (149 crashes), Congress (122 crashes), and Green (116 crashes).

Analysis of driver actions prior to impact shows that the majority of vehicles (1,893 units, or 63.7%) were moving straight ahead. The next most common pre-crash actions were slowing or stopping in traffic, which applied to 346 vehicles, and making a left turn, which involved 212 vehicles.

The most common type of crash was a single-vehicle incident, categorized as 'Not Collision Between Two Vehicles in Transport,' which accounted for 842 crashes or 46.1% of the total. Among multi-vehicle collisions, angle crashes were the most frequent type, with 402 incidents (22%), followed by rear-end collisions with 338 incidents (18.5%).

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 1,275 of the 2,972 vehicles. Sport Utility Vehicles (646) and Pick up trucks (516) were the next most frequent. Commercial vehicles, including semi-tractors and single-unit trucks, were involved in 191 instances.

Of the 3,833 individuals involved in crashes, the majority were drivers (2,870 people, or 74.9%). Passengers, classified as occupants, accounted for another 948 individuals (24.7%). A smaller number of non-motorists were involved, including 15 pedestrians.

Across all 3,833 people involved in crashes, 777 individuals sustained some level of injury or were killed, representing 20.3% of all participants. This includes 19 fatalities, 61 serious injuries, 452 minor injuries, and 245 possible injuries. The remaining 3,013 people were not injured.

Safety equipment usage was documented for many participants, with 3,196 individuals reported as using a shoulder and lap belt. A notable 239 individuals were recorded as using no safety equipment at all. Additionally, various child restraint systems were in use, including 63 forward-facing seats and 30 booster seats.

The data shows that two-vehicle collisions were the most common scenario, accounting for 1,020 crashes. Single-vehicle crashes were also frequent, with 747 incidents, making up 40.9% of the total. Crashes involving three or more vehicles were less common, with 59 three-vehicle crashes and 2 four-vehicle crashes recorded.