Norton Shores, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Norton Shores: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Norton Shores and Muskegon County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Muskegon County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Muskegon County compares with Michigan
Muskegon County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Muskegon County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Muskegon County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 30.5 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 42% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.2% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 23.0% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.5% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 8% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.4% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.9% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.8% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 19% below the state |
Compared with Michigan, Muskegon County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Muskegon County at a glance: January the month with the most truck crashes: 14.7% of the year's total.
Overview
Muskegon County has recorded 659 truck crashes since 2015, with 195 people injured and 22 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 7 days.
Norton Shores had 114 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Muskegon County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 14.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.0%.
November through March accounts for 44.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 9.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 23.0% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-31 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). It is followed by Sherman Blvd (2), CR-HEIGHTS Ravenna Rd (1) and CR-W River Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 29 of the truck crashes here, or 4.4%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in December (21%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 4.0, vs 3.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Norton Shores fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Muskegon County.
- Look at alternatives to US-31 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- With 23.0% 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
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 Muskegon County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 3 |
| Sherman Blvd | 2 |
| CR-HEIGHTS Ravenna Rd | 1 |
| CR-W River Rd | 1 |
| SR-46 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Muskegon County) |
|---|---|
| Apple | 59 |
| US-31 | 58 |
| S Us 31 | 54 |
| N Us 31 | 35 |
| Sherman | 32 |
| Holton | 32 |
| Maple Island | 22 |
| Laketon | 21 |
Norton Shores at a glance
| Population | 25,070 |
| Land area | 23.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,079 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49444) | $53,054 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49444) | $155,995 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Muskegon 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 | 34 | — | 1.5 |
| 2000s | 44 | +31% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 38 | -13% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 58 | +51% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 34 a year in the 1990s and 58 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Norton Shores
How common are truck crashes in Norton Shores?
659 truck crashes have been reported in Muskegon County since 2015, with 22 deaths and 195 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Norton Shores?
US-31 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Norton Shores since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Norton Shores?
The worst month is January: 14.7% of truck crashes in Muskegon County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Norton Shores?
Garbage trucks were involved in 29 reported crashes in Muskegon County since 2015 (4.4% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Norton Shores compare with Michigan?
Muskegon County records 30.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Norton Shores?
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.