Benzie County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Benzie 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
1 of 65 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Benzie County compares with Michigan
Benzie County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Benzie County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Benzie County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.0 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 45% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.8 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 33% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 48% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 37.3% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.5% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 30.5% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.8% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 11.9% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 43% below the state |
Compared with Michigan, Benzie County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Benzie County at a glance: 6.8 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.1 across Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 65 crashes involving commercial trucks in Benzie County since 2015: 15 people were injured and 4 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 68 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 18.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 1.5%.
November through March accounts for 50.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 21.5% of truck crashes.
37.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Benzie County since 2015 were spread across roads: US-31 (2) and CR-HOMESTEAD Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.5% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for Benzie County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Benzie County.
- Morning starts matter: 30.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Michigan.
- With 37.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), 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 Benzie County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Benzie County) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 2 |
| CR-HOMESTEAD Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Benzie County) |
|---|---|
| Honor | 15 |
| Reynolds | 6 |
| Lake Ann | 4 |
| US-31 | 3 |
| Pioneer | 3 |
| Cadillac | 2 |
| Cinder | 2 |
| Crystal | 2 |
Benzie County at a glance
| Population | 18,520 |
| Land area | 319.7 sq mi |
| Density | 58 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $76,054 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Benzie 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 | 3 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 4 | +43% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 4 | -15% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 6 | +71% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 3 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 6. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Benzie County
ZIP codes in Benzie County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Benzie County
How common are truck crashes in Benzie County?
Benzie County has had 65 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 15 people and killing 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in Benzie County?
Truck crashes in Benzie County peak in January, with 18.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Benzie County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Benzie County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Benzie County compared with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Benzie County has 29.0 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Benzie County?
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.