Waterford, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Waterford: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
13 of 224 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Waterford compares with Michigan
Waterford against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Waterford stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Waterford | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 26.7 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 49% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.0 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 52% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 6.3% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 2.0× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.1% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 32% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.1% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 45% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.6% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 14.0% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 32% below the state |
Waterford has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Waterford: 1 in 16 garbage-truck share of crashes is 6.3%, against 3.2% for Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 224 crashes involving commercial trucks in Waterford since 2015: 60 people were injured and 2 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 19 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 11.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.4%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.6% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 11.6% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 12.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-24 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). It is followed by SR-59 (2), CR-AIRPORT Rd (1) and CR-LONG Lake Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 13 of the truck crashes here, or 5.8%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Route planning tips for Waterford fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-24 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 29.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Michigan; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Waterford
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-24 | 3 |
| SR-59 | 2 |
| CR-AIRPORT Rd | 1 |
| CR-LONG Lake Rd | 1 |
| Dixie Hwy | 1 |
| I-75 | 1 |
| Opdyke Rd | 1 |
| SR-5 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Waterford) |
|---|---|
| Highland | 56 |
| Dixie | 51 |
| Elizabeth Lake | 17 |
| Williams Lake | 14 |
| Walton | 8 |
| Huron | 8 |
| Telegraph | 6 |
| Airport | 6 |
Waterford at a glance
| Population | 70,538 |
| Land area | 30.6 sq mi |
| Density | 2,302 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Waterford 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 | 18 | — | 7.5 |
| 2000s | 15 | -16% | 6.5 |
| 2010s | 14 | -5% | 4.0 |
| 2020s | 18 | +22% | 3.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 18 to 18. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.8 a year in 2016–19 and 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Waterford
How common are truck crashes in Waterford?
Waterford has had 224 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 60 people and killing 2.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Waterford?
US-24 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Waterford since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Waterford?
The worst month is August: 11.2% of truck crashes in Waterford happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Waterford?
13 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Waterford since 2015, 5.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Waterford compare with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 26.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Waterford, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Waterford?
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.