Ottawa County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ottawa County: 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
1.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Ottawa County compares with Michigan
Ottawa County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ottawa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ottawa County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.3 | 52.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 19% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.26 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.6% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.0% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.9% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.0% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Ottawa County sits below Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and after dark. It runs above Michigan on on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Ottawa County: January the month with the most truck crashes: 14.6% of the year's total.
Overview
Ottawa County has recorded 1,797 truck crashes since 2015, with 611 people injured and 31 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (14.6% of the year) and are lowest in March (6.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.9% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 9.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.6% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
US-31 leads in Ottawa County with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: CR-120TH Ave (2), I-196 (2) and SR-45 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 57 of the truck crashes here, or 3.2%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in November (14% of them).
They recorded 1.9 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Ottawa County fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-31 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: November is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Ottawa County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 20.6% 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
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 Ottawa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Ottawa County) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 3 |
| CR-120TH Ave | 2 |
| I-196 | 2 |
| SR-45 | 2 |
| 72nd Ave | 1 |
| Adams St | 1 |
| CR-22ND Ave | 1 |
| CR-44TH St | 1 |
| CR-48TH Ave | 1 |
| CR-64TH St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ottawa County) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 148 |
| I-196 | 133 |
| I-96 | 115 |
| Chicago | 89 |
| Lake Michigan | 57 |
| I 196 Bl | 46 |
| Riley | 39 |
| Beacon | 39 |
Ottawa County at a glance
| Population | 306,235 |
| Land area | 563.5 sq mi |
| Density | 543 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $91,743 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ottawa 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 | 88 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 100 | +14% | 3.5 |
| 2010s | 111 | +11% | 2.0 |
| 2020s | 157 | +42% | 1.8 |
In the 1990s about 88 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 157. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 2.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Ottawa County
ZIP codes in Ottawa County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Ottawa County
How many truck accidents are there in Ottawa County?
Ottawa County has had 1,797 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 611 people and killing 31.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Ottawa County?
Since 2015, US-31 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Ottawa County: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Ottawa County?
The worst month is January: 14.6% of truck crashes in Ottawa County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Ottawa County?
57 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Ottawa County since 2015, 3.2% of all truck crashes.
How does Ottawa County compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Ottawa County records 49.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Ottawa County?
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.