Ela, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ela: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Ela and Lake County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lake County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lake County compares with Illinois
Lake County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lake County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 36.0 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 36% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 11.2% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.8% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.1% | 17.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.0% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.7% | 24.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Illinois, Lake County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr. It runs above Illinois on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Ela at a glance: 2.6× fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Ela per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (6.6 vs 2.5).
Overview
Lake County has recorded 3,005 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,469 people injured and 88 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
With 24 truck crashes reported in Ela since 2015, this page uses Lake County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 10.1% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.0% for Illinois.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 11.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Illinois: 9.0%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Ela is I-94, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-90 (5), US-12 (5) and SR-83 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 52 of the truck crashes here, or 1.7%, compared with 1.4% in Illinois.
Their busiest month is December, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.1 deaths compared with 2.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Ela fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lake County.
- Look at alternatives to I-94 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at December schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 11.2% of truck crashes here, more than Illinois; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 7 |
| I-90 | 5 |
| US-12 | 5 |
| SR-83 | 3 |
| I-294 | 2 |
| Lake Cook Rd | 2 |
| SR-60 | 2 |
| US-14 | 2 |
| Beverly Dr | 1 |
| Buffalo Grove Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lake County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 533 |
| Skokie Valley Rd | 48 |
| Green Bay Rd | 40 |
| Deerfield Rd | 38 |
| SR-41 | 36 |
| Skokie Hwy | 36 |
| Waukegan Rd | 33 |
| Belvidere Rd | 31 |
Ela at a glance
| Population | 46,380 |
| Land area | 34.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,349 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 60047) | $176,081 |
| Median home value (ZIP 60047) | $541,709 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lake 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 | 137 | — | 6.0 |
| 2000s | 259 | +89% | 4.9 |
| 2010s | 241 | -7% | 4.1 |
| 2020s | 248 | +3% | 9.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 137 to 248. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.8 a year in 2016–19, 9.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Ela
How many truck crashes happen in Ela?
3,005 truck crashes have been reported in Lake County since 2015, with 88 deaths and 1,469 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Ela?
I-94 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Ela since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Ela?
The worst month is January: 10.1% of truck crashes in Lake County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Ela?
Since 2015, Lake County has reported 52 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.7% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Ela compare with Illinois?
Per 100,000 residents, Lake County has 36.0 truck crashes a year; Illinois has 56.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Ela?
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.