Downs, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Downs: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Downs and McLean County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use McLean County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 1,262 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How McLean County compares with Illinois
McLean County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where McLean County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | McLean County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 63.1 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.6% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 57% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 18.7% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.9% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.3% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 51.0% | 42.0% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 28.1% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Illinois, McLean County is lower on garbage-truck share. It runs above Illinois on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for McLean County: 18.7% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Illinois: 9.0%).
Overview
Since 2015, 1,262 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in McLean County. They injured 607 people and killed 54.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
With 29 truck crashes reported in Downs since 2015, this page uses McLean County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 13.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is October at 5.7%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 51.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.0% for Illinois.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 7.5% of truck crashes.
18.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.0% across Illinois.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-74 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). Next come I-55 (3), US-51 (2) and N 2850 East Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 7 of the truck crashes here, or 0.6%, compared with 1.4% in Illinois.
Route planning tips for Downs fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in McLean County.
- Check whether your routes use I-74, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 18.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Illinois; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in McLean County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-74 | 4 |
| I-55 | 3 |
| US-51 | 2 |
| N 2850 East Rd | 1 |
| SR-9 | 1 |
| Six Points Rd | 1 |
| US-150 | 1 |
| Veterans Pkwy | 1 |
| Veterans Pkwy Business I-55 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (McLean County) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 485 |
| I-74 | 152 |
| I-39 | 48 |
| W Market St | 16 |
| Veterans Pkwy | 15 |
| US-136 | 13 |
| I-055 | 9 |
| E 200 North Rd | 9 |
Downs at a glance
| Population | 1,185 |
| Land area | 3.0 sq mi |
| Density | 395 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 61736) | $110,444 |
| Median home value (ZIP 61736) | $290,875 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in McLean 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 | 48 | — | 2.5 |
| 2000s | 82 | +73% | 3.1 |
| 2010s | 98 | +19% | 2.7 |
| 2020s | 113 | +15% | 3.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 48 a year in the 1990s and 113 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 3.5 a year in 2016–19 and 3.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Downs
How common are truck crashes in Downs?
1,262 truck crashes have been reported in McLean County since 2015, with 54 deaths and 607 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Downs?
Since 2015, I-74 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Downs: 4.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Downs?
The worst month is February: 13.4% of truck crashes in McLean County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Downs?
Since 2015, McLean County has reported 7 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.6% of its truck crashes.
How does Downs compare with Illinois for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, McLean County has 63.1 truck crashes a year; Illinois has 56.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Downs?
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.