Waddams, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Waddams: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Waddams and Stephenson County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Stephenson County numbers.
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. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Stephenson County: 5.2 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.6 in Illinois.
Overview
Police reported 199 crashes involving commercial trucks in Stephenson County since 2015: 104 people were injured and 11 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 21 days.
Waddams had 6 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Stephenson County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 12.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.4% of truck crashes, against 42.0% across Illinois.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (10.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 13.1% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-26 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). Next come N Baker Rd (1), Sr- 26 (1) and US-20 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 2.0% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
Route planning tips for Waddams fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Stephenson County.
- Look at alternatives to SR-26 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 13.1% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Illinois), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Stephenson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-26 | 2 |
| N Baker Rd | 1 |
| Sr- 26 | 1 |
| US-20 | 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 |
Waddams at a glance
| Population | 709 |
| Land area | 35.8 sq mi |
| Density | 20 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 61050) | $74,728 |
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.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Waddams
How common are truck crashes in Waddams?
199 truck crashes have been reported in Stephenson County since 2015, with 11 deaths and 104 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Waddams?
NHTSA data shows SR-26 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Waddams since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Waddams?
Truck crashes in Stephenson County peak in August, with 12.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Waddams?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Stephenson County since 2015, 2.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Waddams compare 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 Waddams?
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.