Douglas County, KS truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Douglas 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
4.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Douglas County compares with Kansas
Douglas County against Kansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Douglas County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Douglas County | Kansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.9 | 61.4 | 49.7 | 51% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 65% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.20 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 38% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.5% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 2.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.5% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.7% | 23.1% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.2% | 15.2% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.9% | 42.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.2% | 23.2% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Douglas County has lower values than Kansas for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above Kansas on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Douglas County at a glance: 1 in 18 garbage-truck share of crashes is 5.5%, against 2.1% for Kansas.
Overview
Douglas County has recorded 420 truck crashes since 2015, with 88 people injured and 7 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 10 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (12.4% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.9% of truck crashes, against 42.2% across Kansas.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 10.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Kansas: 9.3%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Douglas County is US-56, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by Augusta Dr (1), I-70 (1) and SR-10 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 22 crashes, 5.2% of the total, against 2.1% across Kansas.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in December (18% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 4.5 deaths compared with 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Douglas County fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Douglas County.
- Check whether your routes use US-56, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at December schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 24.7% of truck crashes here, more than Kansas; adjust start times where you can.
- With 10.5% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Kansas), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Douglas County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Douglas County) |
|---|---|
| US-56 | 2 |
| Augusta Dr | 1 |
| I-70 | 1 |
| SR-10 | 1 |
| US-40 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Douglas County) |
|---|---|
| I-070 | 98 |
| I070Kta | 42 |
| 23Rd | 12 |
| Kentucky | 5 |
| Wakarusa | 4 |
| Lakeview | 3 |
| Iowa | 3 |
| I-70 | 3 |
Douglas County at a glance
| Population | 121,989 |
| Land area | 455.8 sq mi |
| Density | 268 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $73,627 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Douglas 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 | 25 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 29 | +18% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 39 | +32% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 38 | -1% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 25 a year in the 1990s and 38 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Douglas County
ZIP codes in Douglas County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Douglas County
How common are truck crashes in Douglas County?
Since 2015, 420 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Douglas County (88 injured, 7 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Douglas County?
NHTSA data shows US-56 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes in Douglas County since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Douglas County?
December has the most truck crashes in Douglas County, 12.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Douglas County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 22 reported crashes in Douglas County since 2015 (5.2% of truck crashes).
How does Douglas County compare with Kansas for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 29.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Douglas County, vs 61.4 for Kansas.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Douglas County?
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.