Forestdale, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Forestdale: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Forestdale and Jefferson County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Jefferson County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Jefferson County compares with Alabama
Jefferson County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jefferson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jefferson County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 81.9 | 80.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 38% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.8% | 0.8% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.3% | 22.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.5% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.4% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.8% | 23.7% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Alabama, Jefferson County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
Forestdale at a glance: I-59 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Forestdale: 13 since 2015.
Overview
Jefferson County has recorded 6,305 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,535 people injured and 141 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Forestdale since 2015, this page uses Jefferson County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 9.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 7.3%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.4% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Alabama.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 6.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.8% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Alabama.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-59 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (13). After it: I-65 (9), I-20 (3) and I-22 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
185 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (13%).
They recorded 2.3 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Forestdale fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-59; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- 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 Jefferson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 13 |
| I-65 | 9 |
| I-20 | 3 |
| I-22 | 3 |
| SR-79 | 3 |
| SR-5 | 2 |
| University Blvd | 2 |
| 1st Ave N | 1 |
| 24th St N | 1 |
| 4th Ave S | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jefferson County) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 1,303 |
| I-65 | 1,128 |
| I-459 | 596 |
| I-20 | 495 |
| US-280 | 124 |
| I-22 | 115 |
| US-78 | 74 |
| US-31 | 52 |
Forestdale at a glance
| Land area | 6.7 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 35214) | $56,383 |
| Median home value (ZIP 35214) | $163,449 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jefferson 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 | 168 | — | 10.0 |
| 2000s | 360 | +114% | 11.5 |
| 2010s | 486 | +35% | 8.7 |
| 2020s | 484 | -0% | 10.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 168 a year in the 1990s and 484 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 6.8 a year in 2016–19 and 10.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Forestdale
How many truck accidents are there in Forestdale?
Since 2015, 6,305 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Jefferson County (2,535 injured, 141 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Forestdale?
Since 2015, I-59 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Forestdale: 13.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Forestdale?
Truck crashes in Jefferson County peak in March, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Forestdale?
Since 2015, Jefferson County has reported 185 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.9% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Forestdale compare with Alabama?
Per 100,000 residents, Jefferson County has 81.9 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Forestdale?
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.