Stephenson County, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Stephenson 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
4 of 199 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Stephenson County compares with Illinois
Stephenson County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Stephenson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Stephenson County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 40.3 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 28% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.2 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 2.0× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 13.1% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.1% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.8% | 17.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.5% | 24.1% | 24.8% | same |
Stephenson County has lower values than Illinois for crashes per 100k residents / yr. It runs above Illinois on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Stephenson County at a glance: 5.2 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.6 across Illinois.
Overview
Stephenson County has recorded 199 truck crashes since 2015, with 104 people injured and 11 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 21 days.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 12.1% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.0%).
November through March accounts for 42.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.0% in Illinois.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (10.6%).
13.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.0% across Illinois.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Stephenson County since 2015: SR-26 (2), US-20 (2), N Baker Rd (1), SR-75 (1) and Sr- 26 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 4 of the truck crashes here, or 2.0%, compared with 1.4% in Illinois.
Route planning tips for Stephenson County fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Stephenson County.
- With 13.1% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Illinois), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Stephenson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Stephenson County) |
|---|---|
| SR-26 | 2 |
| US-20 | 2 |
| N Baker Rd | 1 |
| SR-75 | 1 |
| Sr- 26 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Stephenson County) |
|---|---|
| US-20 | 28 |
| Il-75 | 8 |
| Ulysses S Grant Memorial | 8 |
| W Us-20 | 7 |
| Il-26 | 7 |
| E Cedarville Rd | 5 |
| E Us-20 | 4 |
| Il-73 | 4 |
Stephenson County at a glance
| Population | 43,088 |
| Land area | 564.2 sq mi |
| Density | 76 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $66,020 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Stephenson 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 | 8 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 14 | +77% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 18 | +22% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 17 | -3% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 8 to 17. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Stephenson County
ZIP codes in Stephenson County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Stephenson County
How many truck crashes happen in Stephenson County?
Stephenson County has had 199 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 104 people and killing 11.
When do most truck crashes happen in Stephenson County?
August has the most truck crashes in Stephenson County, 12.1% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Stephenson County?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Stephenson County since 2015, 2.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Stephenson County compared with Illinois?
Stephenson County records 40.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.0 across Illinois.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Stephenson 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.