Forest Lake, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Forest Lake: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Forest Lake 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 |
Lake County has lower values than Illinois for crashes per 100k residents / yr. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Forest Lake: 2.0× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of Forest Lake (2.8 → 5.6).
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 0 truck crashes reported in Forest Lake since 2015, this page uses Lake County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.9%.
November through March accounts for 41.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.0% in Illinois.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (7.8%).
11.2% 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 Forest Lake is I-94, with 8 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come US-12 (5), I-294 (3) and SR-83 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 52 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in December (13% of them).
They recorded 2.1 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Forest Lake 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.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- With 11.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Illinois), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 8 |
| US-12 | 5 |
| I-294 | 3 |
| SR-83 | 3 |
| Lake Cook Rd | 2 |
| SR-120 | 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 |
Forest Lake at a glance
| Land area | 0.3 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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 137 a year in the 1990s and 248 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.8 a year in 2016–19 and 9.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Forest Lake
How many truck crashes happen in Forest Lake?
3,005 truck crashes have been reported in Lake County since 2015, with 88 deaths and 1,469 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Forest Lake?
Since 2015, I-94 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Forest Lake: 8.
When do most truck crashes happen in Forest Lake?
January has the most truck crashes in Lake County, 10.1% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Forest Lake?
52 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lake County since 2015, 1.7% of all truck crashes.
How does Forest Lake compare with Illinois for truck crashes?
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 Forest Lake?
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.