Alto, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Alto: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Alto and Roberts County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Roberts County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 133 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Roberts County compares with South Dakota
Roberts County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Roberts County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Roberts County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 105.2 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 2.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 52% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 48% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 52.9% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.5% | 22.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.7% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 67.2% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 24.4% | 22.8% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with South Dakota, Roberts County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Roberts County: March worst month: 18.0% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Roberts County has recorded 133 truck crashes since 2015, with 19 people injured and 3 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 34 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Alto since 2015, this page uses Roberts County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 18.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 2.3%.
November through March accounts for 67.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 48.8% in South Dakota.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 9.8% of truck crashes.
52.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 28.6% across South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location within 10 miles of Alto since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 0.8%, compared with 1.6% in South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Alto fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Roberts County.
- With 52.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above South Dakota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Roberts County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Roberts County) |
|---|---|
| I-29 | 85 |
| US-12 | 17 |
| Ave | 5 |
| Sd Hwy 10 | 3 |
| Sd Hwy 106 | 3 |
| Sd Hwy 127 | 3 |
| Ramp | 2 |
| Sd Hwy 15 | 2 |
Alto at a glance
| Population | 55 |
| Land area | 34.9 sq mi |
| Density | 2 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 Roberts 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 | 6 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 6 | +0% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 12 | +105% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 11 | -11% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 11 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Alto
How many truck crashes happen in Alto?
Roberts County has had 133 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 19 people and killing 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Alto?
March has the most truck crashes in Roberts County, 18.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Alto?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Roberts County since 2015, 0.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Alto compare with South Dakota?
Roberts County records 105.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.0 across South Dakota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Alto?
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.