ZIP 46978 (Royal Center, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46978: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Cass 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
12 of 303 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cass County compares with Indiana
Cass County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cass County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cass County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 69.0 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 15% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.9 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.4% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 30% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.2% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.0% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 19% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.6% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 34.7% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Indiana, Cass County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Cass County: 4.9 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.9 in Indiana.
Overview
Police reported 303 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cass County since 2015: 133 people were injured and 14 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 14 days.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 11.9% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (5.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.6% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 7.9% of truck crashes.
7.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 46978 since 2015: US-35 (3). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
12 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.0% share (Indiana: 2.4%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 46978 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Cass County.
- 24.2% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Indiana; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Cass County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-35 | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cass County) |
|---|---|
| US-24 | 45 |
| US-35 | 29 |
| SR-25 | 16 |
| US-24E | 16 |
| US-35S | 10 |
| US-35N | 8 |
| US-24W | 7 |
| SR-29 | 6 |
ZIP 46978 at a glance
| Population | 2,034 |
| Density | 12 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $78,750 |
| Median home value | $140,137 |
| Home ownership | 86% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cass 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 | 13 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 20 | +55% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 26 | +32% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 23 | -11% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 13 to 23. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46978
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 46978?
303 truck crashes have been reported in Cass County since 2015, with 14 deaths and 133 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 46978?
Truck crashes in Cass County peak in October, with 11.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 46978?
12 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cass County since 2015, 4.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 46978 compare with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 69.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Cass County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 46978?
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.