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The number of traffic crashes on Greater Akron area roadways, intersections and freeways increased slightly between 2012 and 2014, according to the latest three-year analysis compiled by AMATS.  This upward trend is a continuation of one that began in 2009, when area crashes hit their low point.

The agency identified slightly less than 53,000 motor vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian-related crashes in the Greater Akron area during the period using Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) records.  While the number of crashes actually decreased by nearly 3 percent between 2012 and 2013 with 17,738 crashes and 17,236 crashes respectively, the area experienced a significant jump to 17,859 crashes in 2014 – an increase of nearly 4 percent from 2013.

Pulay

AMATS Transportation Engineer Dave Pulay says that the area’s crash totals have been trending up since hitting their nadir in 2009 when slightly more than 16,400 crashes occurred.  Pulay adds that there has been a corresponding increase in the number of vehicle miles travelled throughout the area meaning that more people are commuting and traveling.  “This increase in vehicle miles travelled may be due to the easing of gas prices in the last few years,” he notes.

Interestingly, despite the uptick in area crashes since 2009, the number of crash-related fatalities in the area has remained relatively constant and appears to be easing.  There were only 39 fatalities in 2014 which matches the recent low of 2009.  The most recent peak was 46 fatalities in 2011, but the number of fatalities has been receding since then and remains well below the record high of 68 fatalities reached in 2007.

As the agency responsible for transportation planning in Portage and Summit counties and a portion of Wayne County, AMATS uses this information to identify needed projects throughout the area.  Communities rely on the report when applying for Highway Safety Program funds through the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).

For its most recent analysis, the agency identified 124 high-crash roadway sections and 275 high-crash intersections in the region.  The analysis of freeway crashes was done by ODOT.  The department only considers the top 50 rural and 50 urban locations across the state for further study.  Six AMATS-area freeway locations appeared on ODOT’s top 50 lists with two being located on the Ohio Turnpike.

Among the findings of the analysis are:

• Akron is home to four of the 10 highest ranked high-crash roadway sections and eight of the highest ranked high-crash intersections in the Greater Akron area.
• In Portage County, the highest ranked high-crash intersection remains state Routes 14/303 and 43 in Streetsboro.
• There were 339 bicycle-related crashes during the period with 275 or 81 percent resulting in an injury and two in a fatality.
• There were 464 pedestrian-related crashes during the period with 409 or 88 percent resulting in an injury and 10 in a fatality.
• In comparison to bicycle and pedestrian-related crashes, 26 percent of all vehicular-related crashes resulted in an injury.
• Most bicycle-related crashes – 66 percent – and most pedestrian-related crashes – 42 percent – occur at intersections.
• The 9 to 18 year-old age range was involved in the most bicycle-related crashes accounting for 126 or 37 percent of all such crashes in the area.
• Pedestrian crashes occur most often in the afternoon hours with the peak time being between 5 and 6 p.m.

For more information, please call AMATS at 330-375-2436.  The 2012-2014 Crash Report and reports dating back to 2005 are available by clicking here.