Sandusky Road Safety Overview
Sandusky, Ohio, is a relatively safe city for driving. The county sheriff’s office only receives a few accident reports every month and doesn’t receive any in some months. For a modest-sized town, these car accident statistics are exceptional.
However, that doesn’t mean that road safety can’t be improved. Sandusky is one of many cities in the country that is participating in the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program, which intends to increase the city’s road safety.
Sandusky’s Safe Streets Action Plan
In 2023, Ohio was awarded $15 million to improve the safety of all individuals who use the roads, including drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The City of Sandusky received $200,000 of that money to spend on improvements for all modes of transportation.
City officials have taken that money and directed it toward the Safe Streets Action Plan. However, this plan is still in its infancy, so officials have not yet decided how the funds will be spent.
The first step will be to assess the city’s transportation systems and determine:
- Current transportation needs
- The condition of all roadways
- Historical safety trends
- Current safety trends
This information will be used to prioritize safety projects for the city’s transportation network. There are no restrictions on what types of projects can be funded — as long as those projects enhance road safety for parties that regularly use the roads.
Before the Safe Streets Action Plan proposes any projects or strategies, though, it is getting input from residents. Those in charge want information about unsafe areas and how this project could support locals.
City officials requested residents’ input in a survey and hosted two open house workshops that occurred on July 24, 2024. The surveys were open for three weeks. So far, no decisions have been made based on the information residents provided during the workshops and in the surveys.
What Will Be Done With That Money?
Although Sandusky officials have yet to make any decisions about how to spend the money, funds from this program have been allocated and spent in other cities.
For example, in Lancaster, PA, city officials spent the money to add bike lanes, upgrade traffic light timing, and convert one-way streets to two-way streets.
Sandusky officials could potentially spend the money on:
- Replacing or adding new traffic signs
- Repairing roads
- Adjusting traffic flow
- Repainting street markings
- Adding new pedestrian or bicycle paths
- Replacing traffic signals
As long as the money is being spent to increase the safety of those who use the road, it is a legitimate use of the federal grant.
Sandusky Roads That Are Most Likely To Be Prioritized
Streets and roads with a high number of accidents are most likely to be prioritized in the Safe Streets Action Plan. The following are some of the most dangerous intersections in Sandusky.
US-6 and Ohio 53
This intersection has more than 15 accidents per year, making it the most dangerous intersection in Sandusky.
However, since the county doesn’t have authority over these roads, the city can’t assign more money to improve the intersection. County officials will have to work with state officials (and possibly federal agencies) to make any improvements to these roads.
Conversely, though, this means that state officials may assign funds to improve this intersection without taking funds from the $200,000 that has been assigned to Sandusky. This result would probably be the best-case scenario.
US-20 and County Road 246
This intersection results in about eight accidents per year. Why are there so many accidents here? Almost certainly because there are three fast food restaurants surrounding it.
This popular stopping point attracts anyone traveling long distances on US-20 — that is, anyone traveling between Toledo and Akron. With vehicles entering and turning off the road often, accidents are more likely.
Many travelers are also probably a bit tired when they reach this stopping point. Getting back on the road after a meal may make drivers feel better, but a full stomach probably doesn’t help their fatigue.
US-20 and Kilbourne Street
Just down the road from the previous entry, the main danger of this location is that Kilbourne Street is also Ohio 18. Thus, this is a place where two relatively well-traveled highways intersect.
Even worse, this intersection is in a town center where a lot of local traffic congregates. Intersections are always more dangerous than open roads, which is especially true when travelers enter the intersection for several different reasons.
Local drivers can easily avoid using this intersection, which probably explains why the average yearly crash rate is lower than the previously described intersection. However, anyone traveling on the two cross streets must go through it.
Downtown Sandusky Roads
While roads in downtown Sandusky don’t rank among the most dangerous in the county, they still get a lot of use. Downtown Sandusky is home to an Amtrak station, a major medical facility, a museum, several piers, and countless restaurants and bars.
The city draws thousands of tourists and plenty of local traffic. Even a little bit of optimization is likely to result in a noticeable improvement in safety statistics.
One major option for traffic improvements may be the roads around Cedar Point. It is probably the most popular tourist location in the city and gets tens of thousands of visitors every day during the summer months.
However, the roads that lead to it are quite limited, often creating severe traffic. Emergency services could have trouble reaching the scene of an accident on those roads.
Driving Safely Around Sandusky, Ohio
If you are driving around Sandusky, the good news is that it has relatively safe roads with few accidents. However, it is still a city with heavy traffic, especially during the summer months when Cedar Point is open. Even if traffic improvements are implemented thanks to the Safe Streets Action Plan, you should always be aware of your surroundings when driving around the city.