Every year, Ohio’s highways carry millions of commercial trucks transporting goods across the state and beyond. That said, not all of these trucks make it to their final destination — according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 2024 data, there were 6,103 fatal and non-fatal commercial vehicle crashes in Ohio, resulting in 131 fatal crashes and 150 deaths. 

For passenger vehicle drivers, sharing the road with 80,000-pound commercial trucks is an unavoidable reality, but not all highways carry the same level of risk. Read on as we reveal the most dangerous Ohio highways for truck accidents, so you can stay vigilant and know what to do if the worst happens.

The 5 Most Dangerous Ohio Highways for Truck Accidents

Interstate 75

Interstate 75 consistently ranks as one of Ohio’s most dangerous highways for truck accidents. Butler County, through which I-75 runs as a primary corridor, recorded 444 commercial-related crashes in 2024 alone. Meanwhile, Montgomery County was among the state’s leaders for commercial-involved fatal crashes that same year.

Why I-75 is so dangerous:

• Heavy commercial traffic: I-75 is a critical north-south route connecting Michigan’s manufacturing centers to Tennessee and beyond, meaning constant streams of loaded trucks.
• High-volume urban corridors: The highway passes through three major metro areas, each creating merging challenges, congestion, and conflict points between local and through traffic.
• Speed differentials: The mix of local delivery trucks, regional haulers, and long-distance truckers creates dangerous variations in speed, particularly during rush hours.
• Frequent construction zones: Ongoing infrastructure work reduces lane width, increases congestion, and forces sudden speed changes.

Interstate 70

Interstate 70 cuts across Ohio from the Indiana border to Wheeling, West Virginia, serving as a major east-west trucking route. Franklin County, where I-70 passes through the heart of Columbus, had the second-highest number of fatal crashes in Ohio in 2024, with 84 deaths. This figure places Franklin County alongside Cuyahoga and Hamilton as the state’s deadliest corridors for both OVI-related and commercial-involved incidents.

Why I-70 is so dangerous:

• Major freight corridor: I-70 connects truckers from Pennsylvania coal country to Indiana distribution centers.
• Challenging terrain: Eastern Ohio’s steep grades test truck braking systems on downgrades and engine power on upgrades, particularly for overloaded or poorly maintained vehicles.
• Complex urban sections: The I-70/I-270 interchange area around Columbus creates dangerous merging and weaving situations where high-speed highway traffic meets urban congestion.
• Weather challenges: Lake-effect snow affects northern portions in winter, while fog settles in river valleys, reducing visibility.

Interstate 71

Interstate 71 connects Ohio’s two largest metro areas, running 248 miles from Cleveland through Columbus to Cincinnati. The statistics are sobering: Cuyahoga County, which I-71 cuts directly through, led the entire state with 107 fatal crashes in 2024. Further south, the Medina County segment of I-71 saw 210 commercial-related crashes in 2024, underscoring the corridor’s dangers even outside major urban centers.

Why I-71 is so dangerous:

• Urban-to-rural transitions: I-71 alternates between high-speed rural sections and sudden urban congestion, requiring constant speed adjustments that large trucks struggle to make safely.
• Narrow lanes in older sections: Portions of I-71, particularly approaching Cleveland from the south and Cincinnati from the north, were built to older interstate standards with narrower lanes that leave less margin for error.
• Weather vulnerability: Northern sections experience lake-effect snow from Lake Erie, while the entire corridor faces ice storms and heavy rain.
• High through-traffic volume: Trucks traveling between Cleveland and Cincinnati rarely exit, meaning long stretches of sustained high-speed operation.

Ohio Turnpike (I-80/I-90)

The Ohio Turnpike, running 241 miles across northern Ohio from the Indiana border to Pennsylvania, is the state’s busiest toll road and one of the nation’s most heavily traveled trucking routes.

Recent data shows the Turnpike’s crash rate has been trending upward, reaching 0.56 crashes per million vehicle miles in 2024. For the first eight months of 2025, the accident rate stood at 87.3 when normalized by distance traveled; a concerning figure that reflects both the volume of truck traffic and the challenging conditions this corridor faces.

Why the Ohio Turnpike is so dangerous:

• Relentless truck traffic: The Turnpike has no weight restrictions, meaning the heaviest commercial vehicles use it constantly; trucks often make up 25-30% of total traffic.
• Extreme weather exposure: Parallel to Lake Erie, the Turnpike is devastated by lake-effect snow, whiteout conditions, and black ice during winter months.
• Fatigue factor: Long, straight, monotonous stretches encourage driver inattention and drowsiness, both for truckers and passenger vehicle drivers.
• High-speed operations: Posted speeds of 70 mph combined with 80,000-pound trucks create severe crashes when things go wrong.

Interstate 90

As with I-71, the I-90 corridor through Cleveland contributes heavily to Cuyahoga County’s status as the state’s crash leader. Further west, Ottawa County (part of the I-90/State Route 2 corridor) recorded 51 commercial-related crashes in 2024, demonstrating that the danger extends beyond just the Cleveland metro area.

Why I-90 is so dangerous:

• Lake Erie weather: Proximity to the lake means sudden, severe weather changes, like lake-effect snow, fog, and freezing rain that arrive with little warning.
• Heavy through-traffic: I-90 is a major east-west route for trucks traveling between Chicago and the East Coast, meaning constant commercial vehicle presence.
• Urban congestion: The Cleveland metro section creates stop-and-go traffic where trucks struggle to slow and accelerate safely.

Safety Tips for Sharing Ohio Highways with Commercial Trucks

You may not be able to control how truck drivers operate their vehicles, but you can reduce your risk through defensive driving and awareness of truck limitations.

Avoid Blind Spots

If you can’t see the truck driver in their side mirror, they can’t see you. Trucks have massive blind spots on both sides, directly behind the trailer, and 20 feet in front of the cab. 

So, don’t linger in these “no-zones.” If you need to be there temporarily while passing, get through quickly and return to a visible position.

Give Trucks Plenty of Space

Allow at least 4-6 seconds of following distance behind trucks, more in bad weather. Never cut in front of a truck after passing; they need far more room to stop than passenger vehicles. Cutting in front of a truck and then braking is one of the most common ways car drivers cause truck accidents.

Pass Safely and Deliberately

When passing a truck:

• Always pass on the left (the driver’s side blind spot is smaller).
• Accelerate steadily to minimize time in the truck’s blind spot.
• Don’t linger alongside; complete the pass and return to your lane only when you can see the entire truck in your rearview mirror.
• Signal your intentions well in advance.

Anticipate Wide Turns

Trucks need extra room to turn, often swinging wide to the left before turning right. Never squeeze between a turning truck and the curb; trucks can’t see you there, and you could be crushed.

Exercise Extra Caution in Bad Weather

If visibility drops or roads become icy:

• Increase following distance dramatically, as trucks need even more room to stop on slippery surfaces.
• Slow down and leave ample space for trucks to maneuver.
• Consider exiting the highway until conditions improve if visibility is severely limited.
• Watch for sudden slowdowns when trucks encounter black ice or poor visibility.

Learn more about bad weather winter driving in Ohio. 

Stay Alert in Construction Zones

Narrow lanes, reduced speed limits, and concrete barriers reduce everyone’s margin for error. Trucks are harder to maneuver in tight spaces, and the consequences of even minor contact can be severe.

Know What to Do If an Accident Does Happen

Despite your best efforts, truck accidents can still happen. The moments immediately following a crash are chaotic and disorienting, but the actions you take can significantly impact both your physical recovery and your legal rights.

Your first priority is getting to safety. If your vehicle is still drivable and you’re physically able to move, get to the shoulder or another location away from active traffic lanes. Turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers, then call 911.

The adrenaline coursing through your system after a crash can mask serious injuries. You might feel fine standing on the side of the highway, but internal bleeding, concussions, and soft tissue damage don’t always announce themselves immediately. Seeking medical attention promptly also creates a medical record connecting your injuries directly to the accident, which becomes crucial if you pursue a legal claim later.

While you’re still at the scene and it’s safe to do so, document everything you can. Take photos of vehicle damage from multiple angles, capture road conditions and skid marks, and get clear images of the truck’s placards, company name, truck number, and license plates. If possible, get the driver’s commercial license number, insurance details, and employer information. 

What happens next is where many truck accident victims make costly mistakes. The trucking company’s insurance adjuster will likely contact you quickly, sometimes within hours. These conversations feel helpful and routine, but the adjuster’s job is to gather information that minimizes the company’s liability and your settlement. Anything you say can be used to argue that you were partially at fault or that your injuries aren’t serious.

That’s why the sooner you have an attorney working to preserve evidence and protect your rights, the stronger your case will be. Truck accident cases aren’t like typical fender-benders; instead, they involve federal regulations governing driver qualifications and vehicle maintenance, corporate liability structures designed to shield companies from accountability, and well-funded defendants with experienced legal teams working to minimize what they pay.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a truck accident on an Ohio highway, Slater & Zurz can help. Our experienced truck accident attorneys have recovered millions for Ohio truck accident victims. Call us at 330-762-0700 for a free case review.