Plains, KS truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Plains: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Plains and Meade County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Meade County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 121 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Meade County compares with Kansas
Meade County against Kansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Meade County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Meade County | Kansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 271.0 | 61.4 | 49.7 | 4.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 18.1 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 3.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.9% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 16.4% | 23.1% | 23.7% | 29% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.7% | 15.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.1% | 42.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 32.8% | 23.2% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Meade County has lower values than Kansas for garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Meade County: 18.1 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Kansas: 4.8).
Overview
Meade County has recorded 121 truck crashes since 2015, with 56 people injured and 21 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 35 days.
Only 17 truck crashes were reported in Plains since 2015; patterns below come from Meade County as a whole.
54% of truck crash reports in Meade County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (13.2% of the year) and are lowest in July (2.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.1% of truck crashes, vs 42.2% for Kansas.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 12.9% of truck crashes, compared with 9.3% in Kansas.
Where crashes happen
US-54 leads within 10 miles of Plains with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come US-160 (2), N Main Rd (1) and US-50 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Meade County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Plains fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-54 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 12.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Kansas; 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 Meade County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-54 | 4 |
| US-160 | 2 |
| N Main Rd | 1 |
| US-50 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Meade County) |
|---|---|
| Carthage | 3 |
| Indiana | 2 |
| County Road 26 | 1 |
| County Road L | 1 |
| Fowler | 1 |
| Main | 1 |
| Meade Co Road 2 | 1 |
| Meade Co Road 26 | 1 |
Plains at a glance
| Population | 1,006 |
| Land area | 1.0 sq mi |
| Density | 1,007 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 67869) | $72,760 |
| Median home value (ZIP 67869) | $152,705 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Meade 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 | 6 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 8 | +42% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 8 | +0% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 12 | +48% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 12 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Plains
How many truck crashes happen in Plains?
Meade County has had 121 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 56 people and killing 21.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Plains?
Since 2015, US-54 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Plains: 4.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Plains?
The worst month is June: 13.2% of truck crashes in Meade County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Plains?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Meade County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Plains compare with Kansas for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Meade County has 271.0 truck crashes a year; Kansas has 61.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Plains?
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.