Mercer, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Mercer: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Mercer and Mercer County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Mercer County numbers.
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).
What stands out in Mercer County: 1 in 26 garbage-truck share of crashes is 3.9%, against 1.4% for Illinois.
Overview
Mercer County has recorded 53 truck crashes since 2015, with 20 people injured and 1 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 79 days.
With 4 truck crashes reported in Mercer since 2015, this page uses Mercer County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 11.3% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (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 within 10 miles of Mercer since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 3.8%, compared with 1.4% in Illinois.
Route planning tips for Mercer fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 29.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Illinois; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 17.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Illinois; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Mercer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles 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 at a glance
| Population | 3,857 |
| Land area | 35.4 sq mi |
| Density | 109 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 61231) | $70,991 |
| Median home value (ZIP 61231) | $146,706 |
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.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Mercer
How common are truck crashes in Mercer?
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?
March has the most truck crashes in Mercer County, 11.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Mercer?
Since 2015, Mercer County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.8% of its truck crashes.
How does Mercer compare with Illinois for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Mercer County has 30.3 truck crashes a year; Illinois has 56.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Mercer?
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.