ZIP 46312 (East Chicago, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46312: 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 46312: I-80 22 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 46312.
Overview
Lake County has recorded 6,927 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,451 people injured and 108 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 2 truck crashes a day.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 9.8% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.5%).
November through March accounts for 42.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Indiana.
The busiest hour is 12–1 am, with 9.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 12.4% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 46312 is I-80, with 22 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-94 (8), Grant St (3) and I-90 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 94 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (11% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.1, vs 1.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46312 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-80, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Lake County.
- 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) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 22 |
| I-94 | 8 |
| Grant St | 3 |
| I-90 | 3 |
| SR-83 | 3 |
| US-12 | 3 |
| Brainard Ave | 2 |
| I- 80 | 2 |
| US-12W | 2 |
| US-41N | 2 |
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 46312 at a glance
| Population | 26,022 |
| Density | 716 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $42,125 |
| Median home value | $104,207 |
| Home ownership | 43% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 352 to 647. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. 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 46312
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 46312?
Lake County has had 6,927 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,451 people and killing 108.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 46312?
I-80 had 22 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 46312 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 46312?
January has the most truck crashes in Lake County, 9.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 46312?
94 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lake County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 46312 compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
Lake County records 117.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Indiana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 46312?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.