Carmel, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Carmel: 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
14 of 411 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Carmel compares with Indiana
Carmel against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Carmel stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Carmel | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 33.7 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 58% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 72% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.4% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.3% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 78% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.8% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.8% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 27% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.8% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 20.3% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 36% below the state |
Compared with Indiana, Carmel is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Carmel: 0.8 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.9 across Indiana.
Overview
Carmel has recorded 411 truck crashes since 2015, with 123 people injured and 3 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 10 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (11.2% of the year) and are lowest in April (5.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.8% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 9.5% of truck crashes.
2.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
I-70 leads within 15 miles of Carmel with 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-465 (7), I-65 (5) and I-69 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 14 of the truck crashes here, or 3.4%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
Route planning tips for Carmel fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-70, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 25.8% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Indiana; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Carmel
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 8 |
| I-465 | 7 |
| I-65 | 5 |
| I-69 | 4 |
| US-31 | 4 |
| I-65S | 3 |
| Harding St | 2 |
| I-465E | 2 |
| I-70E | 2 |
| 30th | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Carmel) |
|---|---|
| I-465W | 34 |
| US-31S | 33 |
| I-465 | 32 |
| I-465E | 29 |
| US-31N | 21 |
| US-31 | 17 |
| Keystone | 15 |
| 116Th | 15 |
Carmel at a glance
| Population | 103,606 |
| Land area | 49.1 sq mi |
| Density | 2,111 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 46032) | $132,085 |
| Median home value (ZIP 46032) | $496,418 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Carmel 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 | 20 | — | 3.1 |
| 2000s | 27 | +40% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 32 | +15% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 32 | -0% | 2.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 20 to 32. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Carmel
How many truck crashes happen in Carmel?
411 truck crashes have been reported in Carmel since 2015, with 3 deaths and 123 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Carmel?
Since 2015, I-70 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Carmel: 8.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Carmel?
The worst month is September: 11.2% of truck crashes in Carmel happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Carmel?
Since 2015, Carmel has reported 14 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.4% of its truck crashes.
How does Carmel compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 33.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Carmel, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Carmel?
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.