Benton, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Benton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Benton and Lafayette County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lafayette County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 115 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lafayette County compares with Wisconsin
Lafayette County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lafayette County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lafayette County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 55.2 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.7 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 31% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.5% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 22% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.9% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 22% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.0% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.7% | 44.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.0% | 20.9% | 24.8% | same |
Lafayette County sits below Wisconsin on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Lafayette County: 5.7 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.4 in Wisconsin.
Overview
Lafayette County has recorded 115 truck crashes since 2015, with 54 people injured and 7 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 38 days in fully reported years.
With 4 truck crashes reported in Benton since 2015, this page uses Lafayette County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (13.0% of the year) and are lowest in May (4.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.7% of truck crashes, against 44.9% across Wisconsin.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 9.6% of truck crashes.
10.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 13.4% across Wisconsin.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Benton since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-81 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 1.7%, compared with 2.7% in Wisconsin.
Route planning tips for Benton fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Lafayette County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-81 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lafayette County) |
|---|---|
| Ush 151 | 19 |
| Sth 011 | 15 |
| Sth 081 | 13 |
| Sth 023 | 12 |
| Cth G | 7 |
| Cth | 5 |
| Cth O | 3 |
| Cth P | 3 |
Benton at a glance
| Population | 986 |
| Land area | 0.8 sq mi |
| Density | 1,170 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 53803) | $79,545 |
| Median home value (ZIP 53803) | $163,791 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lafayette 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 | 8 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 12 | +56% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 10 | -20% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 9 | -7% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 8 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 9. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Benton
How many truck accidents are there in Benton?
Since 2015, 115 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lafayette County (54 injured, 7 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Benton?
The worst month is January: 13.0% of truck crashes in Lafayette County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Benton?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lafayette County since 2015, 1.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Benton compare with Wisconsin?
Lafayette County records 55.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.6 across Wisconsin.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Benton?
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.