Fife Lake Township, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Fife Lake Township: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Fife Lake Township and Grand Traverse County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Grand Traverse County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Grand Traverse County compares with Michigan
Grand Traverse County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Grand Traverse County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Grand Traverse County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 45.7 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 13% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.1% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.9% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.9% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.2% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 14.2% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 31% below the state |
Grand Traverse County has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. It runs above Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Grand Traverse County: 1 in 19 crashes involve a garbage truck (25 since 2015), vs 3.2% across Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 518 crashes involving commercial trucks in Grand Traverse County since 2015: 153 people were injured and 18 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 8 days in fully reported years.
Fife Lake Township had 33 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Grand Traverse County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 10.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 5.8%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.2% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 9.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 25.9% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Fife Lake is US-131, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by CR-SUMMIT City Rd (1) and SR-131 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 25 crashes, 4.8% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (20%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Fife Lake Township fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-131, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 25.9% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Grand Traverse County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 4 |
| CR-SUMMIT City Rd | 1 |
| SR-131 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Grand Traverse County) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 108 |
| Garfield | 45 |
| South Airport | 28 |
| Division | 14 |
| Mile | 14 |
| US-131 | 12 |
| Beitner | 12 |
| Grandview | 10 |
Fife Lake Township at a glance
| Population | 1,544 |
| Land area | 34.6 sq mi |
| Density | 45 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49649) | $74,656 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49649) | $267,438 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Grand Traverse 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 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 32 | +28% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 30 | -6% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 49 | +64% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 25 a year in the 1990s and 49 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Fife Lake Township
How many truck crashes happen in Fife Lake Township?
Since 2015, 518 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Grand Traverse County (153 injured, 18 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Fife Lake Township?
Since 2015, US-131 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Fife Lake: 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in Fife Lake Township?
The worst month is February: 10.0% of truck crashes in Grand Traverse County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Fife Lake Township?
Since 2015, Grand Traverse County has reported 25 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Fife Lake Township compared with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Grand Traverse County has 45.7 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Fife Lake Township?
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.