Waunakee, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Waunakee: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Waunakee and Dane County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Dane County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Dane County compares with Wisconsin
Dane County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Dane County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Dane County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 33.3 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 22% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 41% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 32% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.5% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 29% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.4% | 26.9% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.6% | 16.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.9% | 44.9% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 22.1% | 20.9% | 24.8% | same |
Dane County has lower values than Wisconsin for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Waunakee: I-39 6 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Waunakee.
Overview
Dane County has recorded 2,268 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,025 people injured and 45 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
Only 24 truck crashes were reported in Waunakee since 2015; patterns below come from Dane County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (9.5% of the year) and are lowest in March (7.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.9% of truck crashes, against 44.9% across Wisconsin.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 9.5% of truck crashes, compared with 13.4% in Wisconsin.
Where crashes happen
I-39 leads within 10 miles of Waunakee with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-51 (2), Lodispringfield Rd (1) and Mineral Point Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
41 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.8% share (Wisconsin: 2.7%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in May (15% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.0 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Waunakee fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-39 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Dane County.
- 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 Dane County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-39 | 6 |
| US-51 | 2 |
| Lodispringfield Rd | 1 |
| Mineral Point Rd | 1 |
| SR-113 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Dane County) |
|---|---|
| I-039 | 695 |
| Ush 012 | 234 |
| Ush 018 | 92 |
| Ush 151 | 80 |
| Ush 051 | 80 |
| I-094 | 77 |
| Sth 019 | 59 |
| SR-039 | 44 |
Waunakee at a glance
| Population | 16,363 |
| Land area | 7.4 sq mi |
| Density | 2,212 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 53597) | $117,000 |
| Median home value (ZIP 53597) | $499,706 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Dane 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 | 178 | — | 4.0 |
| 2000s | 222 | +24% | 4.6 |
| 2010s | 188 | -15% | 3.8 |
| 2020s | 187 | -1% | 2.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 178 a year in the 1990s and 187 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 3.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Waunakee
How many truck crashes happen in Waunakee?
Dane County has had 2,268 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,025 people and killing 45.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Waunakee?
Since 2015, I-39 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Waunakee: 6.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Waunakee?
Truck crashes in Dane County peak in January, with 9.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Waunakee?
Since 2015, Dane County has reported 41 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Waunakee compared with Wisconsin?
Dane County records 33.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.6 across Wisconsin.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Waunakee?
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.