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The number of crashes on Greater Akron area roadways, intersections and freeways increased slightly in 2011 and 2013 reversing an 11-year trend of declining crash totals for the region, according to the latest three-year analysis compiled by the AMATS.

Pulay

The agency’s analysis identified 51,361 crashes in the area between 2011 and 2013. There were 17,143 crashes in 2011, a significant drop to 16,778 in 2012 and a jump to 17,440 in 2013. AMATS Transportation Engineer Dave Pulay says that the area’s crash totals have been trending down since 2002 and appear to have hit their nadir in 2009 when slightly more than 16,000 were documented.

“They have been slowly creeping back up since then. This may be due to the region’s economy stabilizing and more people driving,” Pulay observes.

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 271 high-crash intersections in the region. AMATS prepares its reports based on crash records provided by the Ohio Department of Public Safety. 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. Eight AMATS-area freeway locations appeared on ODOT’s top 50 lists.

Pulay notes that the inclusion of bike and pedestrian crashes in this report is a first for the agency. This is an acknowledgement by planning officials to address the safety of cyclists and pedestrians as cycling and walking increase in popularity.

Among the findings of the analysis are:

• Just as with overall crash totals, the number of crashes that resulted in injuries through the period followed a similar pattern of increases and declines. There were 4,394 crashes with injuries in 2011, a drop to 4,347 in 2012 and then a jump to 4,510 in 2013.
• Akron is home to the top three highest ranked high-crash roadway sections and six of the highest ranked high-crash intersections in the region.
• In Portage County, the highest ranked high-crash intersection remains state Routes 14/303 and 43 in Streetsboro.
• Eight freeway locations were identified by ODOT for further study. Of the eight locations, four are located on the Ohio Turnpike and four are near downtown Akron.
• Out of the 349 bicycle-related crashes that occurred during the period, 281 or nearly 80 percent resulted in an injury. Two crashes resulted in a fatality.
• Out of 488 pedestrian-related crashes during the period, 430 or 88 percent resulted in an injury. Thirteen resulted in a fatality.
• Alcohol was a factor in over 4 percent of all area crashes, but was a factor in nearly 16 percent of all fatal crashes.
• The area’s intersections account for 46 percent of total crashes during the three-year period with roadway sections and freeways accounting for nearly 38 percent and 16 percent respectively.
• For more information, please call AMATS at 330-375-2436. The 2011-2013 Crash Report and reports dating back to 2005 are available on this site’s Reports page.