ZIP 47421 (Bedford, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 47421: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lawrence 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
11 of 231 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lawrence County compares with Indiana
Lawrence County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2024 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lawrence County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2024) | Lawrence County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.2 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 39% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.0 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.0% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.5% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 67% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.5% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.5% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 17% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 24.5% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 23% below the state |
Lawrence County has lower values than Indiana for crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Indiana on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Lawrence County: 1 in 20 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 5.0%, vs 2.4% in Indiana.
Overview
Lawrence County has recorded 231 truck crashes since 2015, with 96 people injured and 9 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 16 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 9.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 6.9%.
November through March accounts for 38.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Indiana.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 9.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 3.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 47421 since 2015: 16th St (1), John Williams (1), SR-37 (1), SR-50E (1) and SR-54 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
11 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.8% share (Indiana: 2.4%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 47421 fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Morning starts matter: 29.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Indiana.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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.
Reporting was incomplete in 2020 and 2025, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Lawrence County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| 16th St | 1 |
| John Williams | 1 |
| SR-37 | 1 |
| SR-50E | 1 |
| SR-54 | 1 |
| SR-60 | 1 |
| US-50 | 1 |
| US-50E | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lawrence County) |
|---|---|
| US-50 | 20 |
| SR-37N | 17 |
| State Rd 37 | 15 |
| SR-37S | 14 |
| US-50E | 13 |
| SR-37 | 9 |
| State Road 37 | 9 |
| SR-54W | 6 |
ZIP 47421 at a glance
| Population | 27,599 |
| Density | 58 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $68,108 |
| Median home value | $188,978 |
| Home ownership | 80% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lawrence 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 | 7 | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 19 | +180% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 21 | +12% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 22 | +0% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 7 a year in the 1990s and 22 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 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 47421
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 47421?
Lawrence County has had 231 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 96 people and killing 9.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 47421?
The worst month is August: 9.5% of truck crashes in Lawrence County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 47421?
11 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lawrence County since 2015, 4.8% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 47421 compared with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 49.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lawrence County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 47421?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2020 and 2025; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.