Clark County residents, agencies track crash data in new ways

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

The Ohio State Highway Patrol has added new features to its public crash data tool.

Residents and other agencies can now analyze crash data from the 88 Ohio counties based on whether the crash was alcohol, bicycle, buggy, drug, failure-to-yield, ran red light/stop sign, school bus, teen driver or work zone-related.

Previously, crashes were only divided into commercial, deer, distracted, mature, motorcycle, OVI (operating a vehicle impaired), pedestrian, speed, unbelted or youth-related.

The most common type of crash in Clark County is youth-related, involving a driver between 15 and 24, the OSHP online user guide explained. In Clark County, 62 of the 218 crashes so far this year are youth-related.

Background maps are updated with better street views and the public can now create density maps (heat maps) to see where crash hot-spots are, according to the OSHP.

RELATED: Clark County residents, agencies track crashes with new state data tool 

The Springfield Post of the OSHP have found crash hot-spots on Interstate 70, U.S. 68, and state Routes 41 and 4, said Lt. Brian Aller, commander of the Springfield Post of the OSHP – which corresponds with the mapping.

Interactive crash mapping, Ohio Statistics and Analytics for Traffic Safety (OSTATS), allows users to apply additional filters to the crash data like county, date, day, time, and type of crash to make the information more convenient and user-friendly.

The data shows users how many crashes occurred in their county, the severity of the crash, the type of crash, the hour of the crash, and the day of the crash.

“We realize we’re not the only agency that may find this data useful,” OSHP Public Affairs Commander Lt. Craig Cvetan said.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Deer-related crashes accelerate; 41 reported last year in Clark County 

Other agencies that can use OSTATS is Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Safe Communities Coalitions, county engineers, the media, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the general public, Cvetan said.

Users can search for crash data from 2015 up to the year-to-date.

This tool allows agencies and the general public to compare and analyze crash data in their specific county.

“We’ve been using data like this for decades to determine where we need to work and where we need to focus on – not only our enforcement, but our educational efforts to bring crashes down in Ohio,” Cvetan, said.

This tool not only helps plan for the future, but it assists in reviewing what has been done.

“I think it paints a really good picture of what’s going on as far as crashes within an area – that is right at everyone’s fingertips,” Cvetan said.


2020 Crash Statistics

26,777 - Crashes in Ohio

218 - Crashes in Clark County

156 - Property damage only crashes

62 - Youth-related crashes

The Springfield News-Sun is committed to bringing you coverage of local law enforcement agencies and traffic safety related issues in Clark County.

About the Author