Garden City, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Garden City: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Garden City and Wayne County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Wayne County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Wayne County compares with Michigan
Wayne County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wayne County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wayne County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 60.8 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.4 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 33% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 12% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.0% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 49% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.6% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 7% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.4% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 12% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.4% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.3% | 20.7% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Michigan, Wayne County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr.
Garden City at a glance: I-94 deadliest road: 9 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Garden City since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 12,681 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Wayne County. They injured 3,989 people and killed 186.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 3 truck crashes every day.
Only 40 truck crashes were reported in Garden City since 2015; patterns below come from Wayne County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (9.3% of the year) and are lowest in March (7.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.4% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 7.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 9.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-94 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (9). After it: Van Born Rd (6), I-75 (5) and I-275 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 359 crashes, 2.8% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in October (11%).
They recorded 1.5 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Garden City fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-94 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in October; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Wayne County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 9 |
| Van Born Rd | 6 |
| I-75 | 5 |
| I-275 | 4 |
| SR-14 | 4 |
| US-24 | 4 |
| I-96 | 3 |
| US-12 | 3 |
| 7 Mile Rd | 2 |
| Northline Rd | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wayne County) |
|---|---|
| I-75 | 1,175 |
| I-94 | 1,020 |
| I-96 | 409 |
| Telegraph | 369 |
| I-275 | 296 |
| Michigan | 278 |
| Mile | 219 |
| Fort | 200 |
Garden City at a glance
| Population | 26,410 |
| Land area | 5.9 sq mi |
| Density | 4,505 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 48135) | $67,294 |
| Median home value (ZIP 48135) | $168,707 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wayne 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 | 884 | — | 19.8 |
| 2000s | 873 | -1% | 12.7 |
| 2010s | 748 | -14% | 11.4 |
| 2020s | 1,137 | +52% | 13.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 884 a year in the 1990s and 1,137 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 11.5 a year in 2016–19 and 13.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Garden City
How common are truck crashes in Garden City?
12,681 truck crashes have been reported in Wayne County since 2015, with 186 deaths and 3,989 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Garden City?
I-94 had 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Garden City since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Garden City?
Truck crashes in Wayne County peak in September, with 9.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Garden City?
Garbage trucks were involved in 359 reported crashes in Wayne County since 2015 (2.8% of truck crashes).
How does Garden City compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 60.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Wayne County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Garden City?
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.