Chatham, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chatham: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Chatham and Sangamon County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Sangamon County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Sangamon County compares with Illinois
Sangamon County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Sangamon County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Sangamon County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 53.3 | 56.0 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 8% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.6% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.0% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.0% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.5% | 42.0% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 24.4% | 24.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Illinois, Sangamon County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes. It runs above Illinois on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Sangamon County at a glance: 1 in 41 garbage-truck share of crashes is 2.5%, against 1.4% for Illinois.
Overview
Sangamon County has recorded 1,219 truck crashes since 2015, with 598 people injured and 31 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
With 11 truck crashes reported in Chatham since 2015, this page uses Sangamon County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (12.0% of the year) and are lowest in April (5.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.5% of truck crashes, against 42.0% across Illinois.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (7.4%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 14.6% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Chatham is I-55, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-4 (2), CR-8/OLD Jacksonville Rd (1) and I-72 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 28 crashes, 2.3% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in October (25% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.4 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Chatham fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-55; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: October is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Sangamon County.
- With 14.6% 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 Sangamon County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 6 |
| SR-4 | 2 |
| CR-8/OLD Jacksonville Rd | 1 |
| I-72 | 1 |
| Koke Mill Rd | 1 |
| Mansion Rd | 1 |
| Recreation Dr | 1 |
| SR-104 | 1 |
| SR-29 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Sangamon County) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 454 |
| I-72 | 121 |
| Il-104 | 13 |
| Il-97 | 12 |
| Il-29 | 12 |
| I-055 | 11 |
| I-55 (Sb) | 10 |
| Veterans | 9 |
Chatham at a glance
| Population | 14,639 |
| Land area | 7.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,977 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 62629) | $107,250 |
| Median home value (ZIP 62629) | $238,724 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Sangamon 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 | 37 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 64 | +74% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 92 | +44% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 108 | +17% | 4.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 37 to 108. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 4.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Chatham
How many truck crashes happen in Chatham?
Since 2015, 1,219 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Sangamon County (598 injured, 31 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Chatham?
NHTSA data shows I-55 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Chatham since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Chatham?
Truck crashes in Sangamon County peak in February, with 12.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Chatham?
Since 2015, Sangamon County has reported 28 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Chatham compare with Illinois?
The yearly rate is 53.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Sangamon County, vs 56.0 for Illinois.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Chatham?
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.