Colfax Township, Benzie County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Colfax Township, Benzie County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Colfax Township, Benzie County and Benzie County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Benzie County numbers.
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. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Benzie County: 6.8 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Michigan: 2.1).
Overview
Since 2015, 65 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Benzie County. They injured 15 people and killed 4.
That averages about one truck crash every 68 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Colfax Township, Benzie County since 2015, this page uses Benzie County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 18.5% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (1.5%).
November through March accounts for 50.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 21.5% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 37.3% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Colfax since 2015: US-31 (2) and SR-37 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.5% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for Colfax Township, Benzie County fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.5% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; adjust start times where you can.
- 37.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; 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
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 Benzie County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 2 |
| SR-37 | 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 |
Colfax Township, Benzie County at a glance
| Population | 702 |
| Land area | 35.6 sq mi |
| Density | 20 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49683) | $61,250 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49683) | $204,228 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 a year in the 1990s and 6 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, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Colfax Township, Benzie County
How many truck crashes happen in Colfax Township, Benzie County?
Benzie County has had 65 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 15 people and killing 4.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Colfax Township, Benzie County?
Truck crashes in Benzie County peak in January, with 18.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Colfax Township, Benzie County?
Since 2015, Benzie County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 1.5% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Colfax Township, Benzie County compare with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 29.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Benzie County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Colfax Township, Benzie County?
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.