ZIP 68502 (Lincoln, NE) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 68502: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lancaster 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
1.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lancaster County compares with Nebraska
Lancaster County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lancaster County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lancaster County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 35.6 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 41% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 50% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.59 | 0.57 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.0% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 2.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.0% | 16.7% | 6.2% | 17% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.2% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.3% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.6% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.9% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Compared with Nebraska, Lancaster County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Lancaster County at a glance: 1 in 20 garbage-truck share of crashes is 5.0%, against 1.8% for Nebraska.
Overview
Lancaster County has recorded 1,360 truck crashes since 2015, with 801 people injured and 34 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (10.2% of the year) and are lowest in April (7.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.6% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Nebraska.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 14.0% of truck crashes, compared with 16.7% in Nebraska.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). After it: US-34 (2), Abigail Dr (1) and CR-ADAMS St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 67 of the truck crashes here, or 4.9%, compared with 1.8% in Nebraska.
Their busiest month is February, with 16% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.5 deaths compared with 2.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 68502 fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at February schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.2% of truck crashes here, more than Nebraska; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Lancaster County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 4 |
| US-34 | 2 |
| Abigail Dr | 1 |
| CR-ADAMS St | 1 |
| CR-SOUTH 148Th Street | 1 |
| CR-SW 14Th St | 1 |
| SR-2 | 1 |
| Salt Creek Roadway | 1 |
| US-6 | 1 |
| Westland Cir | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lancaster County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 145 |
| US-77 | 28 |
| US-6 | 28 |
| SR-2 | 12 |
| Cornhusker Hwy | 9 |
| US-34 | 9 |
| SR-77 | 6 |
| SR-6 | 6 |
ZIP 68502 at a glance
| Population | 25,846 |
| Density | 1,496 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $68,523 |
| Median home value | $227,588 |
| Home ownership | 56% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lancaster 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 | 126 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 107 | -15% | 2.7 |
| 2010s | 111 | +4% | 2.2 |
| 2020s | 117 | +6% | 2.0 |
In the 1990s about 126 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 117. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 68502
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 68502?
Lancaster County has had 1,360 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 801 people and killing 34.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 68502?
I-80 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 68502 since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 68502?
February has the most truck crashes in Lancaster County, 10.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 68502?
Garbage trucks were involved in 67 reported crashes in Lancaster County since 2015 (4.9% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 68502 compare with Nebraska for truck crashes?
Lancaster County records 35.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 60.7 across Nebraska.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 68502?
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.