Mercer County, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Mercer County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 53 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Mercer County compares with Illinois
Mercer County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mercer County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mercer County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 30.3 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 46% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 23% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 26% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.9% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 2.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.6% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 2.0× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.4% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.5% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.1% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 9.8% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 59% below the state |
Mercer County has lower values than Illinois for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Mercer County at a glance: 1 in 26 crashes involve a garbage truck (2 since 2015), vs 1.4% across Illinois.
Overview
Police reported 53 crashes involving commercial trucks in Mercer County since 2015: 20 people were injured and 1 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 79 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 11.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 3.8%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.1% of truck crashes, vs 42.0% for Illinois.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 11.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 17.6% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location in Mercer County since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.8% share (Illinois: 1.4%).
Route planning tips for Mercer County fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 29.4% of truck crashes here, more than Illinois; adjust start times where you can.
- With 17.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Illinois), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Mercer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded in Mercer County since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mercer County) |
|---|---|
| US-67 | 6 |
| SR-17 | 6 |
| SR-67 | 3 |
| 150Th St | 2 |
| Il-17 | 2 |
| Us Rt 67 | 2 |
| 135Th Ave | 1 |
| 135Th St | 1 |
Mercer County at a glance
| Population | 15,292 |
| Land area | 561.2 sq mi |
| Density | 27 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $76,100 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mercer 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 | 2 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 4 | +116% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 5 | +46% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 5 | -7% | 0.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 5. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported.
Cities, towns & communities in Mercer County
ZIP codes in Mercer County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Mercer County
How many truck crashes happen in Mercer County?
Mercer County has had 53 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 20 people and killing 1.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Mercer County?
March has the most truck crashes in Mercer County, 11.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Mercer County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Mercer County since 2015 (3.8% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Mercer County compared with Illinois?
Per 100,000 residents, Mercer County has 30.3 truck crashes a year; Illinois has 56.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Mercer County?
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.