The Most Dangerous Cities to Drive in Ohio

(STACKER) – Ohio is the #33 state for fatal car crashes in America, with one fatality per 10,000 residents in 2022. A total of 1,275 people died in car crashes in Ohio that year.

Truck parking club data used from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to rank the Ohio cities with the highest accident rates as part of a larger national analysis.

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The rankings are based on the number of accidents per 10,000 residents in 2022. Ties are broken based on total fatalities, although some ties may remain. Only cities with at least 10 fatal accidents and 20,000 inhabitants were included in the analysis. Cities without available Census Bureau population estimates were not included.

In 2022, more than 42,000 Americans were killed in car accidents, making these accidents the leading cause of death in the US. These deaths occurred in more than 39,000 crashes that year — about one crash per 10,000 U.S. residents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. But in some cities the roads are deadlier than others.

Fatal car crashes fell for decades as federal and state governments adopted safety regulations for automakers and occupants. But the numbers rose in 2020 and 2021, with an increase in fatalities due to alcohol and speeding. As COVID-19 restrictions reduced the number of cars on the road, many drivers adopted risky driving behaviors that persisted even when traffic returned to normal. Although deaths have declined in 2022, they remain higher than they have been in more than a decade.

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Nationally, nearly all of the 25 cities with fatal crashes were in the Southeast. Most were smaller towns: more than half had fewer than 50,000 inhabitants, while only three had more than 100,000 inhabitants. They were also often far away from major cities. In most cases, geographic hazards exist, including hilly terrain, winding rivers, and dense forests. Nearly all top cities have some sort of waterfront (rivers, lakes, coasts and the like) that can provide distractions for drivers enjoying the view.

Read on to see which Ohio cities are most affected by fatal car crashes.

#8. Akron

– Fatal accidents per 10,000 inhabitants: 0.9 (lower than the national average)
– Total fatal accidents: 17 (20 fatalities)
– Most common crash location: provincial roads (7 fatal accidents)

#7. Toledo

– Fatal accidents per 10,000 inhabitants: 1.0 (Below the national average)
– Total fatal accidents: 27 (29 fatalities)
– Most common crash location: provincial roads (8 fatal accidents)

#6. Columbus

– Fatal accidents per 10,000 inhabitants: 1.0 (Below the national average)
– Total fatal accidents: 88 (93 fatalities)
– Most common crash location: local city streets (25 fatalities)

#5. Cincinnati

– Fatal accidents per 10,000 inhabitants: 1.2 (about the same as the national average)
– Total fatal accidents: 37 (40 fatalities)
– Most common crash location: provincial roads (19 fatal accidents)

#4. Cleveland

– Fatal accidents per 10,000 inhabitants: 1.3 (about the same as the national average)
– Total fatal accidents: 48 (49 fatalities)
– Most common crash location: provincial roads (18 fatal accidents)

#3. Canton

– Fatal accidents per 10,000 inhabitants: 1.6 (approximately 1.4x the national average)
– Total fatal accidents: 11 (12 fatalities)
– Most common crash location: provincial roads (5 fatal accidents)

#2. Dayton

– Fatal accidents per 10,000 inhabitants: 1.7 (approximately 1.4x the national average)
– Total fatal accidents: 23 (28 fatalities)
– Most common crash location: provincial roads (9 fatal accidents)

#1. Youngstown

– Fatal accidents per 10,000 inhabitants: 2.2 (approximately 1.9x the national average)
– Total fatal accidents: 13 (13 fatalities)
– Most common crash location: provincial roads (10 fatal accidents)

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series using data automation in 29 states.

This story originally appeared on Truck Parking Club and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

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