Whiting, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Whiting: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Whiting and Lake County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lake County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lake County compares with Indiana
Lake County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lake County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 117.4 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.6 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 45% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 40% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.4% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.1% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.9% | 17.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 35.8% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Indiana, Lake County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Indiana on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
Whiting at a glance: 1.9× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of Whiting (5.5 → 10.6).
Overview
Lake County has recorded 6,927 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,451 people injured and 108 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 2 truck crashes every day.
With 26 truck crashes reported in Whiting since 2015, this page uses Lake County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
The busiest hour is 12–1 am, with 9.0% of truck crashes.
12.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Whiting is I-80, with 20 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-94 (9), I-57 (5) and Grant St (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 94 of the truck crashes here, or 1.4%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (11% of them).
They recorded 1.1 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Whiting fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Lake County.
- With 12.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Indiana), 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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 20 |
| I-94 | 9 |
| I-57 | 5 |
| Grant St | 3 |
| SR-83 | 3 |
| 103rd St | 2 |
| Brainard Ave | 2 |
| I-90 | 2 |
| US-12 | 2 |
| US-12W | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lake County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 2,571 |
| I-65 | 1,116 |
| I-90 | 224 |
| US-41 | 101 |
| I-94 | 89 |
| US-30 | 85 |
| I-80E | 68 |
| US-41S | 57 |
Whiting at a glance
| Population | 4,491 |
| Land area | 1.8 sq mi |
| Density | 2,485 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 46394) | $66,176 |
| Median home value (ZIP 46394) | $173,471 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lake 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 | 352 | — | 10.2 |
| 2000s | 554 | +58% | 8.7 |
| 2010s | 482 | -13% | 6.4 |
| 2020s | 647 | +34% | 8.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 352 a year in the 1990s and 647 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.2 a year in 2016–19, 8.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Whiting
How many truck crashes happen in Whiting?
Since 2015, 6,927 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lake County (2,451 injured, 108 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Whiting?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Whiting: 20.
When do most truck crashes happen in Whiting?
The worst month is January: 9.8% of truck crashes in Lake County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Whiting?
Garbage trucks were involved in 94 reported crashes in Lake County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
How does Whiting compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Lake County has 117.4 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Whiting?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.