Whitewater, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Whitewater: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Whitewater 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 stands out for higher 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
Grand Traverse County has recorded 518 truck crashes since 2015, with 153 people injured and 18 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Whitewater since 2015, this page uses Grand Traverse County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (10.0% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.2% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 9.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 25.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Whitewater since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-605 Williamsburg Rd (1), SR-72 (1) and US-31 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 25 crashes, 4.8% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Their busiest month is August, with 20% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Whitewater fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Grand Traverse County.
- With 25.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment 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) |
|---|---|
| CR-605 Williamsburg Rd | 1 |
| SR-72 | 1 |
| US-31 | 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 |
Whitewater at a glance
| Population | 2,717 |
| Land area | 47.8 sq mi |
| Density | 57 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49690) | $108,712 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49690) | $353,444 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 25 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 49. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Whitewater
How common are truck crashes in Whitewater?
Grand Traverse County has had 518 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 153 people and killing 18.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Whitewater?
February has the most truck crashes in Grand Traverse County, 10.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Whitewater?
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 Whitewater compared with Michigan?
Grand Traverse County records 45.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Whitewater?
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.