Three Oaks, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Three Oaks: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Three Oaks and Berrien County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Berrien County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Berrien County compares with Michigan
Berrien County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Berrien County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Berrien County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 112.9 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 2.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.8 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 14% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.22 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 27% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 43% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 38.2% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.7% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 38.4% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.8× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 56.5% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 28.1% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Berrien County has lower values than Michigan for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Berrien County at a glance: 38.2% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 17.7% in Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 2,066 crashes involving commercial trucks in Berrien County since 2015: 460 people were injured and 39 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
Only 11 truck crashes were reported in Three Oaks since 2015; patterns below come from Berrien County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (19.6% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 56.5% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 38.2% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
US-20 leads within 10 miles of Three Oaks with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-80 (3), I-94 (3) and Sr- 2 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 38 crashes, 1.8% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in July (21%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 5.7 deaths compared with 1.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Three Oaks fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-20, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in July; review collection routes for that month.
- 38.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Berrien County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-20 | 6 |
| I-80 | 3 |
| I-94 | 3 |
| Sr- 2 | 2 |
| SR-2 | 1 |
| SR-39 | 1 |
| US-12 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Berrien County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 631 |
| Pulaski | 56 |
| Napier | 49 |
| I-196 | 36 |
| N Us 31 | 33 |
| Red Arrow | 32 |
| US-31 | 28 |
| US-12 | 28 |
Three Oaks at a glance
| Population | 1,396 |
| Land area | 1.1 sq mi |
| Density | 1,277 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49128) | $67,398 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49128) | $255,206 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Berrien 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 | 113 | — | 4.0 |
| 2000s | 119 | +5% | 3.9 |
| 2010s | 132 | +11% | 2.7 |
| 2020s | 172 | +30% | 2.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 113 to 172. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Three Oaks
How many truck crashes happen in Three Oaks?
Berrien County has had 2,066 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 460 people and killing 39.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Three Oaks?
US-20 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Three Oaks since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Three Oaks?
The worst month is January: 19.6% of truck crashes in Berrien County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Three Oaks?
Since 2015, Berrien County has reported 38 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Three Oaks compared with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Berrien County has 112.9 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Three Oaks?
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.