South Bend, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in South Bend: 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How South Bend compares with Indiana
South Bend against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where South Bend stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | South Bend | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 84.3 | 80.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.3% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.9× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.9% | 22.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.5% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.5% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 30.1% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Indiana, South Bend is lower on injuries per crash. Where it is higher: on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in South Bend: 20.3% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Overview
South Bend has recorded 1,021 truck crashes since 2015, with 316 people injured and 28 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 13.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 5.8%.
November through March accounts for 48.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Indiana.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.3%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.3% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (9). It is followed by SR-2 (6), US-12 (5) and US-20 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
23 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.3% share (Indiana: 2.4%).
Their busiest month is February, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for South Bend fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in South Bend.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in February; review collection routes for that month.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 20.3% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 South Bend
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 9 |
| SR-2 | 6 |
| US-12 | 5 |
| US-20 | 3 |
| CR-REDFIELD St | 2 |
| SR-51 | 2 |
| SR-60 | 2 |
| US-20W | 2 |
| Beech Rd | 1 |
| CR-1 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (South Bend) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 147 |
| US-20 | 87 |
| SR-2 | 51 |
| US-31 | 26 |
| SR-23 | 24 |
| US-20E | 22 |
| SR-2W | 18 |
| St Joseph Valley Pkwy | 16 |
South Bend at a glance
| Population | 103,713 |
| Land area | 41.9 sq mi |
| Density | 2,476 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in South Bend 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 | 37 | — | 3.1 |
| 2000s | 71 | +92% | 2.6 |
| 2010s | 84 | +18% | 3.1 |
| 2020s | 77 | -8% | 3.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 37 to 77. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.2 a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about South Bend
How common are truck crashes in South Bend?
Since 2015, 1,021 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in South Bend (316 injured, 28 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in South Bend?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of South Bend: 9.
When do most truck crashes happen in South Bend?
January has the most truck crashes in South Bend, 13.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in South Bend?
23 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in South Bend since 2015, 2.3% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in South Bend compare with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 84.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in South Bend, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in South Bend?
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.