Lake Forest, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lake Forest: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Lake Forest 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 stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Lake Forest: 1.9× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of Lake Forest (2.5 → 4.8).
Overview
Police reported 3,005 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lake County since 2015: 1,469 people were injured and 88 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
With 91 truck crashes reported in Lake Forest 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%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.0% for 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
I-94 leads within 10 miles of Lake Forest with 10 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-41 (5), I-294 (3) and Lake Cook Rd (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 52 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
Their busiest month is December, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.1, vs 2.9 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Lake Forest fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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.
- 11.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Illinois; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 | 10 |
| US-41 | 5 |
| I-294 | 3 |
| Lake Cook Rd | 2 |
| SR-43 | 2 |
| SR-83 | 2 |
| Beverly Dr | 1 |
| Buffalo Grove Rd | 1 |
| CR-20 (Peterson Rd) | 1 |
| CR-69/CR-A34/WINCHESTER 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 |
Lake Forest at a glance
| Population | 19,642 |
| Land area | 17.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,142 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 60045) | $233,125 |
| Median home value (ZIP 60045) | $932,241 |
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. NHTSA counts 4.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 9.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Lake Forest
How many truck crashes happen in Lake Forest?
3,005 truck crashes have been reported in Lake County since 2015, with 88 deaths and 1,469 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Lake Forest?
Since 2015, I-94 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Lake Forest: 10.
When do most truck crashes happen in Lake Forest?
Truck crashes in Lake County peak in January, with 10.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Lake Forest?
Since 2015, Lake County has reported 52 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.7% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Lake Forest compare with Illinois?
The yearly rate is 36.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lake County, vs 56.0 for Illinois.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Lake Forest?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.