ZIP 46601 (South Bend, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46601: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in St. Joseph 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How St. Joseph County compares with Indiana
St. Joseph County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where St. Joseph County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | St. Joseph County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 52.4 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.3% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.6% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.1% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.8% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 30.5% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
St. Joseph County sits below Indiana on crashes per 100k residents / yr. It runs above Indiana on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in St. Joseph County: 22.3% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Overview
St. Joseph County has recorded 1,696 truck crashes since 2015, with 658 people injured and 44 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 15.3% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (6.1%).
November through March accounts for 48.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Indiana.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 22.3% 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 (8). It is followed by SR-2 (5), SR-51 (2) and US-12 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 44 of the truck crashes here, or 2.6%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in June (11% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46601 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in St. Joseph County.
- 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 June schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.6% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; adjust start times where you can.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 22.3% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 St. Joseph County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 8 |
| SR-2 | 5 |
| SR-51 | 2 |
| US-12 | 2 |
| US-20 | 2 |
| US-20W | 2 |
| CR-REDFIELD St | 1 |
| Day Rd | 1 |
| Mayflower | 1 |
| Mu-Auten Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (St. Joseph County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 318 |
| US-20 | 122 |
| SR-2 | 75 |
| US-31 | 41 |
| SR-23 | 37 |
| SR-331 | 31 |
| St Joseph Valley Pkwy | 29 |
| SR-933 | 26 |
ZIP 46601 at a glance
| Population | 4,800 |
| Density | 942 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $30,789 |
| Median home value | $138,644 |
| Home ownership | 24% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in St. Joseph 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 | 58 | — | 3.1 |
| 2000s | 124 | +114% | 2.6 |
| 2010s | 139 | +12% | 3.1 |
| 2020s | 127 | -8% | 3.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 58 a year in the 1990s and 127 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.2 a year in 2016–19, 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46601
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 46601?
Since 2015, 1,696 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in St. Joseph County (658 injured, 44 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 46601?
I-80 had 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 46601 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 46601?
Truck crashes in St. Joseph County peak in January, with 15.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 46601?
Garbage trucks were involved in 44 reported crashes in St. Joseph County since 2015 (2.6% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 46601 compare with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 52.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in St. Joseph County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 46601?
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.