Waubay, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Waubay: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Waubay and Day County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Day County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 53 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Day County compares with South Dakota
Day County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Day County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Day County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 80.7 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 60% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.1% | 28.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.9% | 22.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.4% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 41% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 35.4% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 27% below the state |
| After dark | 25.0% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Day County has lower values than South Dakota for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and after dark.
Day County at a glance: February 15.1% of truck crashes happen in February, more than any other month.
Overview
Since 2015, 53 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Day County. They injured 7 people and killed 2.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 84 days.
Only 2 truck crashes were reported in Waubay since 2015; patterns below come from Day County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 15.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 1.9%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 35.4% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 13.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 27.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (South Dakota: 28.6%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Waubay since 2015: US-12 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 1.9% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Waubay fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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 Day County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Day County) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 39 |
| Sd Hwy 25 | 4 |
| Ave | 1 |
| Main Street | 1 |
| Sd Hwy 27 | 1 |
Waubay at a glance
| Population | 474 |
| Land area | 1.5 sq mi |
| Density | 326 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57273) | $48,167 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57273) | $166,698 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Day 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 | 3 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 3 | +7% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 5 | +53% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 5 | +5% | 0.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 3 to 5. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Waubay
How many truck accidents are there in Waubay?
53 truck crashes have been reported in Day County since 2015, with 2 deaths and 7 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Waubay?
Truck crashes in Day County peak in February, with 15.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Waubay?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Day County since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
How does Waubay compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
Day County records 80.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.0 across South Dakota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Waubay?
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.