Palos Hills, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Palos Hills: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Palos Hills and Cook County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cook County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Cook County compares with Illinois
Cook County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cook County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cook County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.0 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 12% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.3 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 50% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.53 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 1.4% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.7% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 37% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.5% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.7% | 17.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.6% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.0% | 24.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Illinois, Cook County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Palos Hills: I-294 deadliest road: 14 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Palos Hills since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 29,495 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Cook County. They injured 15,477 people and killed 367.
That averages about 7 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
With 29 truck crashes reported in Palos Hills since 2015, this page uses Cook County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 9.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 7.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.6% of truck crashes, against 42.0% across Illinois.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.2% of truck crashes.
5.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.0% across Illinois.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Palos Hills is I-294, with 14 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by I-55 (13), I-57 (6) and SR-43 (6).
Garbage & waste trucks
425 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Illinois: 1.4%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (11%).
They recorded 0.2 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Palos Hills fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-294; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in May; review collection routes for that month.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Cook County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-294 | 14 |
| I-55 | 13 |
| I-57 | 6 |
| SR-43 | 6 |
| SR-50 | 6 |
| 87th St | 3 |
| Pulaski Rd | 3 |
| Western Ave | 3 |
| SR-171 | 2 |
| SR-83 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cook County) |
|---|---|
| I-294 | 2,877 |
| I-90 | 989 |
| I-94 | 802 |
| I-290 | 473 |
| I-55 | 458 |
| I-80 | 348 |
| S Cicero Ave | 339 |
| I-57 | 296 |
Palos Hills at a glance
| Population | 18,026 |
| Land area | 4.2 sq mi |
| Density | 4,245 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 60465) | $83,533 |
| Median home value (ZIP 60465) | $279,215 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cook 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 | 1,033 | — | 42.5 |
| 2000s | 2,315 | +124% | 36.0 |
| 2010s | 2,360 | +2% | 20.9 |
| 2020s | 2,496 | +6% | 37.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 1,033 to 2,496. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 27.0 a year in 2016–19, 37.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Palos Hills
How many truck accidents are there in Palos Hills?
Cook County has had 29,495 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 15,477 people and killing 367.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Palos Hills?
I-294 had 14 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Palos Hills since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Palos Hills?
June has the most truck crashes in Cook County, 9.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Palos Hills?
425 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cook County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Palos Hills compared with Illinois?
Per 100,000 residents, Cook County has 49.0 truck crashes a year; Illinois has 56.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Palos Hills?
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.