Chester Township, Ottawa County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chester Township, Ottawa County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Chester Township, Ottawa County and Ottawa County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Ottawa County numbers.
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 |
Compared with Michigan, Ottawa County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and after dark. It stands out for higher on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Ottawa County: January worst month: 14.6% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Police reported 1,797 crashes involving commercial trucks in Ottawa County since 2015: 611 people were injured and 31 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
Chester Township, Ottawa County had 3 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Ottawa County numbers.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 14.6% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.9% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 9.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 20.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
SR-37 leads within 10 miles of Chester with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by CR-68TH St (1), CR-FRUIT Ridge Ave Nw (1) and CR-RAVENNA Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 57 crashes, 3.2% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in November (14%).
They recorded 1.9 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Chester Township, Ottawa County fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to SR-37 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.
- With 20.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-37 | 4 |
| CR-68TH St | 1 |
| CR-FRUIT Ridge Ave Nw | 1 |
| CR-RAVENNA Rd | 1 |
| Heights Ravenna Rd | 1 |
| I-96 | 1 |
| Sr-M-46 Apple Ave | 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 |
Chester Township, Ottawa County at a glance
| Population | 2,120 |
| Land area | 35.6 sq mi |
| Density | 60 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49403) | $85,000 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49403) | $280,510 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 88 to 157. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Chester Township, Ottawa County
How common are truck crashes in Chester Township, Ottawa County?
Ottawa County has had 1,797 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 611 people and killing 31.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Chester Township, Ottawa County?
SR-37 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Chester since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Chester Township, Ottawa County?
January has the most truck crashes in Ottawa County, 14.6% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Chester Township, 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 Chester Township, Ottawa County compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 49.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Ottawa County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Chester Township, 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.