Salem Township, Knox County, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Salem Township, Knox County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Salem Township, Knox County and Knox County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Knox County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 346 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Knox County compares with Illinois
Knox County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Knox County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Knox County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 61.0 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 19.0% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.5% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.9% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.6% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 32.1% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Compared with Illinois, Knox County is lower on injuries per crash. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
Knox County at a glance: 19.0% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 9.0% in Illinois.
Overview
Since 2015, 346 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Knox County. They injured 148 people and killed 12.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 12 days.
Only 3 truck crashes were reported in Salem Township, Knox County since 2015; patterns below come from Knox County as a whole.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.3% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (5.2%).
November through March accounts for 44.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.0% in Illinois.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 6.9% of truck crashes.
19.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.0% across Illinois.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Salem since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-97 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 5 of the truck crashes here, or 1.4%, compared with 1.4% in Illinois.
Route planning tips for Salem Township, Knox County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Knox County.
- 19.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Illinois; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Knox County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-97 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Knox County) |
|---|---|
| I-74 | 144 |
| US-34 | 20 |
| Henderson St | 4 |
| Illinois Route 97 | 4 |
| Knox Highway 10 | 4 |
| Knox Highway 12 | 4 |
| N Henderson St | 4 |
| S Linwood Rd | 3 |
Salem Township, Knox County at a glance
| Population | 922 |
| Land area | 35.8 sq mi |
| Density | 26 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 61572) | $73,125 |
| Median home value (ZIP 61572) | $111,725 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Knox 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 | 16 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 18 | +14% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 26 | +46% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 30 | +13% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 16 to 30. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Salem Township, Knox County
How many truck accidents are there in Salem Township, Knox County?
346 truck crashes have been reported in Knox County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 148 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Salem Township, Knox County?
The worst month is January: 11.3% of truck crashes in Knox County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Salem Township, Knox County?
Since 2015, Knox County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Salem Township, Knox County compare with Illinois?
Knox County records 61.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.0 across Illinois.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Salem Township, Knox County?
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.