Newton, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Newton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Newton and Dale County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Dale County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
8 of 381 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Dale County compares with Alabama
Dale County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Dale County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Dale County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 66.5 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 18% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.3% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 66% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.0% | 22.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.1% | 12.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.9% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.7% | 23.7% | 24.8% | same |
Dale County has lower values than Alabama for crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes.
The headline for Dale County: 0.3% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 0.8% across Alabama.
Overview
Since 2015, 381 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Dale County. They injured 188 people and killed 16.
That averages about one truck crash every 11 days in fully reported years.
Newton had 30 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Dale County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in November (10.2% of the year) and are lowest in July (5.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.9% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Newton since 2015 were spread across roads: US-231 (2), Us-Sr 53 (2), SR-27 (1), US-31 (1) and US-84 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 8 of the truck crashes here, or 2.1%, compared with 2.3% in Alabama.
Route planning tips for Newton fleets
- Plan November schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Dale County.
- 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 Dale County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-231 | 2 |
| Us-Sr 53 | 2 |
| SR-27 | 1 |
| US-31 | 1 |
| US-84 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Dale County) |
|---|---|
| US-231 | 202 |
| US-84 | 15 |
| Al-27 | 14 |
| Al-134 | 10 |
| Al-123 | 8 |
| Cr-36 | 8 |
| Al-167 | 7 |
| SR-231 | 6 |
Newton at a glance
| Population | 1,652 |
| Land area | 14.2 sq mi |
| Density | 116 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 36371) | $50,625 |
| Median home value (ZIP 36371) | $134,961 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Dale 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 | 14 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 21 | +53% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 27 | +27% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 34 | +25% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 14 a year in the 1990s and 34 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Newton
How common are truck crashes in Newton?
381 truck crashes have been reported in Dale County since 2015, with 16 deaths and 188 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Newton?
The worst month is November: 10.2% of truck crashes in Dale County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Newton?
8 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Dale County since 2015, 2.1% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Newton compare with Alabama?
Dale County records 66.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Alabama.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Newton?
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.