Peterson, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Peterson: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Peterson and Clay County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Clay County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 119 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Clay County compares with Iowa
Clay County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Clay County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Clay County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 59.6 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 12% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 57% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.2% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.3% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 45% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.4% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.6% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 24% below the state |
Clay County sits below Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Iowa on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
Clay County at a glance: 1 in 108 garbage-truck share of crashes is 0.9%, against 2.2% for Iowa.
Overview
Clay County has recorded 119 truck crashes since 2015, with 54 people injured and 7 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 37 days.
With 2 truck crashes reported in Peterson since 2015, this page uses Clay County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
36% of truck crash reports in Clay County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in April (11.8% of the year) and are lowest in September (5.9%).
November through March accounts for 44.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 10.9% of truck crashes.
22.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Peterson happened on US-71 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 1.7%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for Peterson fleets
- Build extra time into April routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Morning starts matter: 26.9% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Iowa.
- With 22.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Iowa), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Clay County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Clay County) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 10 |
| US-18 | 7 |
| Us 71 And B019/320Th St And Us | 6 |
| 130Th Ave | 4 |
| 310Th Ave | 2 |
| 430Th St And 310Th Ave | 2 |
| Ave And Us 18 | 2 |
| E 4Th St And Us 18/N Grand Ave | 2 |
Peterson at a glance
| Population | 321 |
| Land area | 0.5 sq mi |
| Density | 618 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 51047) | $101,000 |
| Median home value (ZIP 51047) | $137,120 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Clay County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 10 | +121% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 11 | +16% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 10 | -14% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 4 a year in the 1990s and 10 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Peterson
How common are truck crashes in Peterson?
Since 2015, 119 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Clay County (54 injured, 7 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Peterson?
Truck crashes in Clay County peak in April, with 11.8% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Peterson?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Clay County since 2015, 1.7% of all truck crashes.
How does Peterson compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Clay County has 59.6 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Peterson?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.