South Haven, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in South Haven: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in South Haven and Van Buren County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Van Buren County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
15 of 1,053 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Van Buren County compares with Michigan
Van Buren County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Van Buren County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Van Buren County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 115.4 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 2.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 55% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 45.9% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.8% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 38.7% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.8× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 61.1% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 24.5% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Van Buren County sits below Michigan on garbage-truck share. It runs above Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Van Buren County: 45.9% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 17.7% in Michigan.
Overview
Van Buren County has recorded 1,053 truck crashes since 2015, with 345 people injured and 36 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
South Haven had 88 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Van Buren County numbers.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 23.6% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (3.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 61.1% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 45.9% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of South Haven since 2015 were spread across roads: 66th St (1), Blue Star Hwy (1) and I-196 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
15 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for South Haven fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Van Buren County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 45.9% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Van Buren County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| 66th St | 1 |
| Blue Star Hwy | 1 |
| I-196 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Van Buren County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 384 |
| I-196 | 52 |
| Red Arrow | 23 |
| Arlington | 8 |
| 46Th | 6 |
| County Road 687 | 6 |
| Main | 6 |
| Phoenix | 6 |
South Haven at a glance
| Population | 4,017 |
| Land area | 3.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,161 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49090) | $68,920 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49090) | $300,156 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Van Buren 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 | 52 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 55 | +5% | 2.1 |
| 2010s | 79 | +44% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 78 | -1% | 1.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 52 a year in the 1990s and 78 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about South Haven
How common are truck crashes in South Haven?
Since 2015, 1,053 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Van Buren County (345 injured, 36 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in South Haven?
The worst month is January: 23.6% of truck crashes in Van Buren County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in South Haven?
15 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Van Buren County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in South Haven compared with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Van Buren County has 115.4 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in South Haven?
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.