Benton, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Benton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Benton and Franklin County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Franklin County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 467 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Franklin County compares with Illinois
Franklin County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Franklin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Franklin County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 109.5 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 2.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.57 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 18% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.6% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 38% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.5% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 20% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.3% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 20% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.9% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 37.0% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 1.5× the state |
Franklin County has lower values than Illinois for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Illinois on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Franklin County at a glance: 37.0% share of truck crashes after dark (Illinois: 24.1%).
Overview
Since 2015, 467 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Franklin County. They injured 257 people and killed 13.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
With 89 truck crashes reported in Benton since 2015, this page uses Franklin County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 11.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.2%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.9% of truck crashes, against 42.0% across Illinois.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 7.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 5.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Illinois: 9.0%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-57 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (6). It is followed by SR-37 (2), SR-148 (1) and SR-149 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 1.1% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
Route planning tips for Benton fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-57 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 Franklin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-57 | 6 |
| SR-37 | 2 |
| SR-148 | 1 |
| SR-149 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Franklin County) |
|---|---|
| I-57 | 307 |
| Il-14 | 8 |
| Il-154 | 5 |
| I-057 | 4 |
| State Highway 37 | 3 |
| State Highway 14 | 3 |
| Logan St | 3 |
| Il-149 | 3 |
Benton at a glance
| Population | 6,578 |
| Land area | 5.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,198 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 62812) | $60,539 |
| Median home value (ZIP 62812) | $101,881 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Franklin 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 | 9 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 18 | +88% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 32 | +80% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 48 | +53% | 1.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 9 to 48. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Benton
How common are truck crashes in Benton?
467 truck crashes have been reported in Franklin County since 2015, with 13 deaths and 257 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Benton?
I-57 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Benton since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Benton?
Truck crashes in Franklin County peak in June, with 11.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Benton?
Since 2015, Franklin County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.1% of its truck crashes.
How does Benton compare with Illinois for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 109.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Franklin County, vs 56.0 for Illinois.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Benton?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.