Vernon Hills, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Vernon Hills: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Vernon Hills 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. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Vernon Hills: 2.4× yearly fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Vernon Hills: 3.0 in 2016–19, 7.2 in 2020–24.
Overview
Police reported 3,005 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lake County since 2015: 1,469 people were injured and 88 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
Only 49 truck crashes were reported in Vernon Hills since 2015; patterns below come from Lake County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (10.1% of the year) and are lowest in March (6.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.0% of truck crashes, against 42.0% across Illinois.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 11.2% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-94 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (11). Next come US-41 (4), I-294 (3) and SR-83 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
52 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.7% share (Illinois: 1.4%).
Their busiest month is December, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 2.1 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Vernon Hills fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-94; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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 | 11 |
| US-41 | 4 |
| I-294 | 3 |
| SR-83 | 3 |
| US-12 | 3 |
| Lake Cook Rd | 2 |
| SR-120 | 2 |
| SR-43 | 2 |
| SR-60 | 2 |
| Beverly Dr | 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 |
Vernon Hills at a glance
| Population | 27,002 |
| Land area | 7.7 sq mi |
| Density | 3,490 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 60061) | $124,468 |
| Median home value (ZIP 60061) | $415,474 |
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 Vernon Hills
How many truck accidents are there in Vernon Hills?
Lake County has had 3,005 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,469 people and killing 88.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Vernon Hills?
Since 2015, I-94 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Vernon Hills: 11.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Vernon Hills?
January has the most truck crashes in Lake County, 10.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Vernon Hills?
52 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lake County since 2015, 1.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Vernon Hills compare with Illinois?
The yearly rate is 36.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lake County, vs 56.0 for Illinois.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Vernon Hills?
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.