Ohio

Ohio drivers are seeing fewer injuries at roundabout intersections

Published

2 months ago

October 14, 2025

Press Room

Ohio drivers are seeing fewer injuries at roundabout intersections

Jane Imbody
| Reporter assisted by AI

Roundabouts are proving to be a safer alternative to traditional intersections, according to an analysis by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The study, which examined 76 intersections that were converted to roundabouts, found that single-lane roundabouts decreased injury crashes by 69% while multi-lane roundabouts saw a 25% decline, according to a community announcement.

“Safety is the driving force behind every decision we make, and the results are clear, roundabouts are very effective at reducing crashes and saving lives,” ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn said in the announcement. “Our goal is to continue to support our local, county and state partners by providing funding for roundabouts.”

Roundabouts part of larger safety initiative

In July, Gov. Mike DeWine announced an additional $137 million for 55 traffic safety projects across the state, with 25 of those projects including the installation of roundabouts.

One of the most notable success stories comes from Clark County, where the intersection of Ohio 41 and Ohio 235 had a long history of serious crashes. Despite several countermeasures, including rumble strips, multiple stop signs and flashing beacons, deadly and serious injury crashes continued to occur.

In 2014, a roundabout was installed. In the 11 years since, there has not been a single fatal crash. The lone serious injury crash occurred in 2023 and involved a motorcycle with the rider impaired by drugs and without a helmet or motorcycle endorsement on their license.

Marion and Richland counties see improvements

In Marion County, the intersection of Ohio 98 and Ohio 529 had 37 crashes in the four years before the roundabout’s construction, with nearly 60% resulting in injury. Since the roundabout opened in 2022, there have been 16 crashes with none resulting in injuries.

Richland County has also seen improvements at the intersection of East Cook Road/Illinois Avenue and Mansfield-Lucas Road. From 2015-18, the two-way stop-controlled intersection saw 21 total crashes, with 15 resulting in injury. The roundabout was opened in August 2022, and in the two years since, crashes have decreased by 40% with an average of three per year and zero injury crashes.

This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.

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Ohio

Summit County under Level 2 snow emergency Tuesday, what does it mean?

Published

6 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Press Room

Summit County under Level 2 snow emergency Tuesday, what does it mean?

A winter storm continues to cover Northeast Ohio roads the morning of Dec. 2, forcing numerous school districts to close.

Some areas of Summit County may get up to 3 to 7 inches of snow. A winter weather advisory has been issued for until 7 p.m. Tuesday alerting residents of slippery road conditions and poor visibility.

In the face of all the expected snow today, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office has declared the county is under a Level 2 snow emergency. County sheriffs have the authority to issue snow emergencies that can either close roads or limit travel within their jurisdictions to help ensure the public’s safety.

What do the different snow emergency levels signify? Here’s what we know.

What is an Ohio Level 1 snow emergency?

In a Level 1 snow emergency, roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow, and roads may also be icy. Motorists are urged to drive very cautiously.

What is an Ohio Level 2 snow emergency?

In a Level 2 snow emergency, roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow, and roads may also be very icy. Driving is discouraged, and only those who feel it is necessary to drive should be out on the roads. Residents should contact their employers to see if they should report to work. Motorists should use extreme caution.

What is an Ohio Level 3 snow emergency?

In a Level 3 snow emergency, all roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel, and no one should be driving unless it’s absolutely necessary to travel or a personal emergency exists. All employees should contact their employers to see if they should report to work. Those traveling on the roads may also be at risk of being arrested.

How can I view current weather-related road closures and restrictions?

To see the latest road closures, visit the Ohio Department of Transportation’s traffic website at ohgo.com.

Former Beacon Journal reporter Emily Mills contributed to this report.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com, or on Twitter @athompsonABJ

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Ohio

Bobcats put Smith on leave, Hauser named interim

Published

18 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Press Room

Bobcats put Smith on leave, Hauser named interim

Adam RittenbergDec 1, 2025, 07:46 PM ET
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Ohio Bobcats coach Brian Smith has been put on leave for undisclosed reasons, and defensive coordinator Jon Hauser has taken over on an interim basis.

In a statement, the team said Smith would be “on leave for an undetermined period of time,” beginning Monday. Ohio did not specify the reason for Smith’s leave, although the situation could take at least several weeks to resolve.

Smith, 45, completed his first regular season as Bobcats head coach at 8-4, after being promoted from offensive coordinator in 2024 to replace Tim Albin, who left to take the head coaching job at Charlotte. He joined the Ohio staff before the 2022 season and became offensive coordinator in 2024.

Hauser also joined Ohio’s staff in 2022 and became defensive coordinator in 2024. The team finished the regular season Friday with a win against Buffalo, and will learn its bowl destination Sunday.

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Ohio

Did changes to Michigan week routine help Ohio State end rivalry skid?

Published

1 day ago

December 1, 2025

Press Room

Did changes to Michigan week routine help Ohio State end rivalry skid?

Before Ohio State snapped a four-game losing streak to archrival Michigan with a 27-9 win on Nov. 29, it made a series of changes to the week of preparation.

It began with moving the marching band’s visit to practice to an idle week in October to taking a flight to Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes had ridden busses to southeast Michigan unlike most of their destinations in the Big Ten.

Buckeyes coach Ryan Day sought for the leadup to The Game to mirror a typical week in the regular season. The stakes of the rivalry had been high enough for his players.

“You want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep the routine the routine,” Day said. “There’s enough emotion that goes into that game. I felt like that was important.”

It wasn’t the first time Day had tinkered with the script to Michigan week, which has included the Thanksgiving holiday since 2010. In 2022, he pushed back Senior Tackle, the tradition in practice in which seniors hit a blocking sled for the last time, to the postseason.

But this year’s changes were the most significant as Day weighed the makeup of his team and their recent setbacks in the rivalry.

The stunning upset loss to the Wolverines last season marked a tipping point as they made adjustments off the field to a week that never lacked for festivities.

“There were just a lot of things that were different and may have thrown us off on our routine,” Day said. “We’re a routine-oriented culture, and I felt like it was the best thing to do. Was that the difference in the end? Who knows. But everything matters.”

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow along on Bluesky, Instagram and X for more.

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