Every day, accidents occur on Ohio roads. From minor fender benders to tragic freeway collisions, accidents often lead to pain and suffering, and unexpected repair or medical costs. As the years go on, it is important to understand accident trends and how they develop to help prevent them and keep residents safe from the emotional and physical costs of an accident.
According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, there were 1,104 fatal crashes in the state in 2022. This is a decrease from 2021, when fatal crashes topped 1, 244, but is not significantly low enough to suggest a real difference is being made.
Serious injuries reported in a large number of crashes
Over the last four years, there were serious injuries in close to 6,000 crashes. In 2022, there were 5,831 crashes with serious injury, down significantly from the year before at 6,405. Along with serious injury, minor injuries, possible injuries and property damage only are down from past years in most situations.
The most dangerous months of the year
In 2022, the most dangerous months for crashes were October and January. 23,931 crashes occurred in October with 23,121 reported in January. December was the safest month, with only 14,038 crashes reported.
In August, the most fatalities related to car crashes peaked at 132, while the safest month was again December, with only 39 fatal crashes.
Common variables in car accidents
The age of the driver is a big factor in the number of accidents reported. Mature-related and youth-related accidents were the most reported in 2022, with commercial-related accidents a distant second.