ZIP 46403 (Gary, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46403: 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 runs above Indiana on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
The headline for ZIP 46403: I-80 deadliest road: 12 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46403 since 2015.
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
Truck crashes peak in January (9.8% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.0% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across 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
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (12). After it: I-94 (8), US-12 (4) and Grant St (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 94 of the truck crashes here, or 1.4%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (11%).
They recorded 1.1 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46403 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at August schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 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
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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 12 |
| I-94 | 8 |
| US-12 | 4 |
| Grant St | 3 |
| I-90 | 3 |
| SR-149 | 2 |
| US-12W | 2 |
| US-20 | 2 |
| US-20W | 2 |
| Us- 20 | 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 46403 at a glance
| Population | 10,929 |
| Density | 462 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $45,991 |
| Median home value | $180,786 |
| Home ownership | 49% |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 6.2 a year in 2016–19 and 8.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46403
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 46403?
6,927 truck crashes have been reported in Lake County since 2015, with 108 deaths and 2,451 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 46403?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46403: 12.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 46403?
The worst month is January: 9.8% of truck crashes in Lake County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 46403?
Since 2015, Lake County has reported 94 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 46403 compare with Indiana?
Per 100,000 residents, Lake County has 117.4 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 46403?
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.