ZIP 46303 (Cedar Lake, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46303: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lake County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lake County compares with Indiana
Lake County against Indiana 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 | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 117.4 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.6 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 45% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 40% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.4% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.1% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.9% | 17.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 35.8% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Indiana, Lake County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
What stands out in ZIP 46303: SR-394 5 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 46303.
Overview
Lake County has recorded 6,927 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,451 people injured and 108 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 2 truck crashes every day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.5%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.0% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 am than at any other hour (9.0%).
Road surface: 12.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-394 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). After it: US-30 (4), SR-1 (3) and US-41 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
94 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Indiana: 2.4%).
Their busiest month is August, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.1 deaths compared with 1.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46303 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-394; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 12.4% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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-394 | 5 |
| US-30 | 4 |
| SR-1 | 3 |
| US-41 | 3 |
| SR-55 | 2 |
| Broadway | 1 |
| I-65 | 1 |
| Us- 41 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lake County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 2,571 |
| I-65 | 1,116 |
| I-90 | 224 |
| US-41 | 101 |
| I-94 | 89 |
| US-30 | 85 |
| I-80E | 68 |
| US-41S | 57 |
ZIP 46303 at a glance
| Population | 17,680 |
| Density | 237 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $84,211 |
| Median home value | $299,096 |
| Home ownership | 86% |
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 | 352 | — | 10.2 |
| 2000s | 554 | +58% | 8.7 |
| 2010s | 482 | -13% | 6.4 |
| 2020s | 647 | +34% | 8.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 352 a year in the 1990s and 647 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 6.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 8.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46303
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 46303?
6,927 truck crashes have been reported in Lake County since 2015, with 108 deaths and 2,451 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 46303?
Since 2015, SR-394 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46303: 5.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 46303?
The worst month is January: 9.8% of truck crashes in Lake County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 46303?
Since 2015, Lake County has reported 94 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 46303 compared with Indiana?
Per 100,000 residents, Lake County has 117.4 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 46303?
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.