ZIP 49456 (Spring Lake, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49456: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Ottawa 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
1.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Ottawa County compares with Michigan
Ottawa County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ottawa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ottawa County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.3 | 52.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 19% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.26 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.6% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.0% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.9% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.0% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Ottawa County sits below Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and after dark. It runs above Michigan on on snow, slush or ice.
Ottawa County at a glance: January worst month: 14.6% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Ottawa County has recorded 1,797 truck crashes since 2015, with 611 people injured and 31 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (14.6% of the year) and are lowest in March (6.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.9% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 9.9% of truck crashes.
20.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 49456 since 2015 were spread across roads: Sherman Blvd (2), US-31 (2) and CR-HEIGHTS Ravenna Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 57 of the truck crashes here, or 3.2%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in November (14%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.9, vs 1.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 49456 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in November; review collection routes for that month.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 20.6% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Ottawa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| Sherman Blvd | 2 |
| US-31 | 2 |
| CR-HEIGHTS Ravenna Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ottawa County) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 148 |
| I-196 | 133 |
| I-96 | 115 |
| Chicago | 89 |
| Lake Michigan | 57 |
| I 196 Bl | 46 |
| Riley | 39 |
| Beacon | 39 |
ZIP 49456 at a glance
| Population | 19,931 |
| Density | 304 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $92,672 |
| Median home value | $340,208 |
| Home ownership | 82% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ottawa 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 | 88 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 100 | +14% | 3.5 |
| 2010s | 111 | +11% | 2.0 |
| 2020s | 157 | +42% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 88 a year in the 1990s and 157 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49456
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 49456?
1,797 truck crashes have been reported in Ottawa County since 2015, with 31 deaths and 611 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 49456?
The worst month is January: 14.6% of truck crashes in Ottawa County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 49456?
57 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Ottawa County since 2015, 3.2% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 49456 compared with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 49.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Ottawa County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 49456?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.