ZIP 46407 (Gary, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46407: 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 |
Lake County sits below Indiana 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.
What stands out in ZIP 46407: 1.6× yearly fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46407: 5.0 in 2016–19, 8.2 in 2020–24.
Overview
Police reported 6,927 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lake County since 2015: 2,451 people were injured and 108 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 2 truck crashes a day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for 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, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (23). It is followed by I-94 (5), US-12 (4) and US-30 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 94 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
Their busiest month is August, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.1, vs 1.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46407 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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.
- With 12.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Indiana), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 23 |
| I-94 | 5 |
| US-12 | 4 |
| US-30 | 4 |
| Grant St | 3 |
| I-90 | 3 |
| I- 80 | 2 |
| I-65 | 2 |
| US-12W | 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 46407 at a glance
| Population | 8,577 |
| Density | 793 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $28,526 |
| Median home value | $59,982 |
| Home ownership | 41% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 352 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 647. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. 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 46407
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 46407?
Since 2015, 6,927 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lake County (2,451 injured, 108 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 46407?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46407: 23.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 46407?
Truck crashes in Lake County peak in January, with 9.8% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 46407?
Since 2015, Lake County has reported 94 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 46407 compare with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 117.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lake County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 46407?
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.