Palmer, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Palmer: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Palmer and Christian County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Christian County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 176 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Christian County compares with Illinois
Christian County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Christian County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Christian County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 45.7 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 18% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 10.2 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 3.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.60 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.6% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 56% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.8% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 47% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.5% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.2% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 60% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 32.9% | 42.0% | 41.9% | 22% below the state |
| After dark | 16.2% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 33% below the state |
Christian County sits below Illinois on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Christian County: 10.2 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Illinois: 2.6).
Overview
Since 2015, 176 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Christian County. They injured 111 people and killed 17.
That averages about one truck crash every 24 days in fully reported years.
Palmer had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Christian County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 14.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 4.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 32.9% of truck crashes, vs 42.0% for Illinois.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 9.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.8% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Palmer since 2015: 1250E Rd (1), CR-500 N (1) and SR-29 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.6% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
Route planning tips for Palmer fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Christian County.
- Morning starts matter: 27.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Illinois.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Christian County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| 1250E Rd | 1 |
| CR-500 N | 1 |
| SR-29 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Christian County) |
|---|---|
| Il-48 | 14 |
| US-51 | 11 |
| Il-29 | 10 |
| SR-29 | 7 |
| East Road | 6 |
| Il-48 (Nb) | 4 |
| North Rd | 4 |
| North Road | 4 |
Palmer at a glance
| Population | 211 |
| Land area | 1.0 sq mi |
| Density | 212 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 62556) | $55,694 |
| Median home value (ZIP 62556) | $101,733 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Christian 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 | 11 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 14 | +28% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 16 | +13% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 15 | -2% | 1.4 |
In the 1990s about 11 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 15. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Palmer
How common are truck crashes in Palmer?
Since 2015, 176 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Christian County (111 injured, 17 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Palmer?
October has the most truck crashes in Christian County, 14.2% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Palmer?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Christian County since 2015, 0.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Palmer compared with Illinois?
Christian County records 45.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.0 across Illinois.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Palmer?
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.