Cape Girardeau County, MO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cape Girardeau 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
12 of 687 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cape Girardeau County compares with Missouri
Cape Girardeau County against Missouri and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cape Girardeau County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cape Girardeau County | Missouri | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 68.6 | 85.9 | 49.7 | 20% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 20% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.3% | 7.2% | 6.2% | 54% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.4% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.5% | 10.7% | 13.8% | 11% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.4% | 40.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.8% | 24.7% | 24.8% | same |
Cape Girardeau County has lower values than Missouri for crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Cape Girardeau County: I-55 5 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road in Cape Girardeau County.
Overview
Cape Girardeau County has recorded 687 truck crashes since 2015, with 290 people injured and 19 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 6 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 10.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is January at 6.8%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.4% of truck crashes, vs 40.7% for Missouri.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (9.9%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.3% of truck crashes, compared with 7.2% in Missouri.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-55 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). Next come Independence St (1), SR-25 (1) and SR-34 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
12 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.7% share (Missouri: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Cape Girardeau County fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-55, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 24.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Missouri; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Cape Girardeau County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Cape Girardeau County) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 5 |
| Independence St | 1 |
| SR-25 | 1 |
| SR-34 | 1 |
| SR-72 | 1 |
| Southern Expy | 1 |
| Sr-Ab | 1 |
| Sr-N | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cape Girardeau County) |
|---|---|
| Is 55 | 233 |
| US-61 | 73 |
| Mo 25 | 29 |
| Mo 74 | 25 |
| Mo 72 | 22 |
| Mo 177 | 22 |
| Mo 34 | 19 |
| Rt Ab | 16 |
Cape Girardeau County at a glance
| Population | 83,658 |
| Land area | 578.5 sq mi |
| Density | 145 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $68,755 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cape Girardeau 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 | 41 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 32 | -23% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 45 | +41% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 58 | +27% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 41 to 58. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Cape Girardeau County
ZIP codes in Cape Girardeau County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Cape Girardeau County
How many truck crashes happen in Cape Girardeau County?
Since 2015, 687 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Cape Girardeau County (290 injured, 19 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Cape Girardeau County?
NHTSA data shows I-55 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes in Cape Girardeau County since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Cape Girardeau County?
October has the most truck crashes in Cape Girardeau County, 10.5% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Cape Girardeau County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 12 reported crashes in Cape Girardeau County since 2015 (1.7% of truck crashes).
How does Cape Girardeau County compare with Missouri for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Cape Girardeau County has 68.6 truck crashes a year; Missouri has 85.9.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Cape Girardeau County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.