Valley Head, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Valley Head: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Valley Head and DeKalb County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use DeKalb County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
15 of 569 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How DeKalb County compares with Alabama
DeKalb County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where DeKalb County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | DeKalb 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 | 6.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.9% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.7% | 22.5% | 23.7% | 17% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.7% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 21% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 35.7% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 12% below the state |
| After dark | 27.7% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
DeKalb County sits below Alabama on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Alabama on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for DeKalb County: 6.4 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Alabama: 3.4).
Overview
DeKalb County has recorded 569 truck crashes since 2015, with 230 people injured and 36 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
Only 12 truck crashes were reported in Valley Head since 2015; patterns below come from DeKalb County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (13.0% of the year) and are lowest in January (5.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 35.7% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 7.7% of truck crashes.
0.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.8% across Alabama.
Where crashes happen
I-59 leads within 10 miles of Valley Head with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-157 (1), SR-35 (1) and SR-40 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
15 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.6% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
Route planning tips for Valley Head fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-59, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 0.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Alabama; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 DeKalb County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 3 |
| SR-157 | 1 |
| SR-35 | 1 |
| SR-40 | 1 |
| SR-75 | 1 |
| Sr-Gault Ave N | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (DeKalb County) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 202 |
| Al-68 | 52 |
| Al-75 | 41 |
| Al-117 | 37 |
| Al-35 | 26 |
| US-11 | 10 |
| Main Street East | 8 |
| Wallace Av Ne | 8 |
Valley Head at a glance
| Population | 595 |
| Land area | 3.8 sq mi |
| Density | 158 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 35989) | $43,580 |
| Median home value (ZIP 35989) | $90,742 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in DeKalb 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 | 40 | — | 2.5 |
| 2000s | 47 | +18% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 46 | -3% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 51 | +10% | 3.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 40 to 51. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Valley Head
How many truck crashes happen in Valley Head?
569 truck crashes have been reported in DeKalb County since 2015, with 36 deaths and 230 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Valley Head?
I-59 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Valley Head since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Valley Head?
Truck crashes in DeKalb County peak in September, with 13.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Valley Head?
Since 2015, DeKalb County has reported 15 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.6% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Valley Head compared with Alabama?
Per 100,000 residents, DeKalb County has 66.5 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Valley Head?
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.