Madison, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Madison: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Madison and Lake County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lake County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 35 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lake County compares with South Dakota
Lake County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lake County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 26.4 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 37% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 40% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.22 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 1.7× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.6% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 45% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.1% | 22.2% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.2% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 64% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 21.9% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 55% below the state |
| After dark | 3.1% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 86% below the state |
Compared with South Dakota, Lake County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Lake County at a glance: July the month with the most truck crashes: 25.7% of the year's total.
Overview
Lake County has recorded 35 truck crashes since 2015, with 7 people injured and 1 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 125 days.
Madison had 3 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Lake County numbers.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 25.7% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (2.9%).
November through March accounts for 21.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 48.8% in South Dakota.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 20.0% of truck crashes.
15.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 28.6% across South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Madison since 2015: SR-34 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (South Dakota: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for Madison fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lake County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.1% of truck crashes here, more than South Dakota; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-34 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lake County) |
|---|---|
| Sd Hwy 34 | 9 |
| Ave | 7 |
| US-81 | 5 |
| Sd Hwy 19 | 3 |
| SR-34 | 1 |
| Se 4Th St | 1 |
Madison at a glance
| Population | 6,086 |
| Land area | 4.6 sq mi |
| Density | 1,318 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57042) | $71,868 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57042) | $219,198 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lake 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 | 2 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 2 | +14% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 3 | +45% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 2 | -20% | 0.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 2. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Madison
How many truck crashes happen in Madison?
Since 2015, 35 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lake County (7 injured, 1 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Madison?
July has the most truck crashes in Lake County, 25.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Madison?
Since 2015, Lake County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 2.9% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Madison compared with South Dakota?
Per 100,000 residents, Lake County has 26.4 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Madison?
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.