Howard County, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Howard 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
15 of 388 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Howard County compares with Indiana
Howard County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Howard County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Howard County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 39.2 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 51% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.7 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 13.8% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.3% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.0% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 37% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.4% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.4% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Compared with Indiana, Howard County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Howard County at a glance: 1 in 28 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 3.6%, vs 2.4% in Indiana.
Overview
Police reported 388 crashes involving commercial trucks in Howard County since 2015: 139 people were injured and 19 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 11 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (10.3% of the year) and are lowest in April (5.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.4% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 8.8% of truck crashes.
13.8% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-35 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). Next come US-31N (2), CR-300 (1) and CR-800 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 15 of the truck crashes here, or 3.9%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
Route planning tips for Howard County fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-35; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 25.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Indiana; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 13.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Indiana; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Howard County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Howard County) |
|---|---|
| US-35 | 3 |
| US-31N | 2 |
| CR-300 | 1 |
| CR-800 | 1 |
| Phillips St | 1 |
| SR-19S | 1 |
| SR-213 | 1 |
| SR-22 | 1 |
| SR-26W | 1 |
| SR-35N | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Howard County) |
|---|---|
| US-35 | 23 |
| US-31 | 20 |
| US-31N | 19 |
| SR-26E | 17 |
| SR-26W | 11 |
| SR-26 | 10 |
| SR-931 | 8 |
| SR-22 | 7 |
Howard County at a glance
| Population | 84,082 |
| Land area | 293.1 sq mi |
| Density | 287 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $64,150 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Howard 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 | 21 | — | 1.5 |
| 2000s | 32 | +53% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 33 | +5% | 1.8 |
| 2020s | 30 | -9% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 21 a year in the 1990s and 30 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Howard County
ZIP codes in Howard County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Howard County
How common are truck crashes in Howard County?
388 truck crashes have been reported in Howard County since 2015, with 19 deaths and 139 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Howard County?
US-35 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Howard County since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Howard County?
October has the most truck crashes in Howard County, 10.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Howard County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in Howard County since 2015 (3.9% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Howard County compared with Indiana?
Per 100,000 residents, Howard County has 39.2 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Howard County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.