ZIP 47579 (Santa Claus, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 47579: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Spencer 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
5 of 191 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Spencer County compares with Indiana
Spencer County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Spencer County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Spencer County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 80.6 | 80.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.3 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 2.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.2% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 42% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.4% | 22.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 23% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.7% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 34.1% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Spencer County sits below Indiana on on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
Spencer County at a glance: 7.3 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Indiana: 2.9).
Overview
Since 2015, 191 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Spencer County. They injured 64 people and killed 13.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 22 days.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 12.6% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (5.2%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.7% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 8.4% of truck crashes.
6.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 47579 is US-231, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-64W (2), SR-66 (2) and SR-161 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 2.6% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
Route planning tips for ZIP 47579 fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-231, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Spencer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-231 | 3 |
| I-64W | 2 |
| SR-66 | 2 |
| SR-161 | 1 |
| US-231N | 1 |
| Us- 231 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Spencer County) |
|---|---|
| US-231 | 18 |
| I-64 | 18 |
| SR-66 | 16 |
| US-231N | 12 |
| SR-66E | 11 |
| I-64W | 11 |
| I-64E | 8 |
| SR-66W | 7 |
ZIP 47579 at a glance
| Population | 2,883 |
| Density | 97 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $87,926 |
| Median home value | $259,385 |
| Home ownership | 91% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Spencer 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 | 5 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 18 | +260% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 17 | -1% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 16 | -6% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 16. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 47579
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 47579?
Spencer County has had 191 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 64 people and killing 13.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 47579?
US-231 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 47579 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 47579?
The worst month is February: 12.6% of truck crashes in Spencer County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 47579?
Since 2015, Spencer County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.6% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 47579 compare with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 80.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Spencer County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 47579?
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.