Opelika, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Opelika: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, 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
12 of 625 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Opelika compares with Alabama
Opelika against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Opelika stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Opelika | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 152.2 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 44% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 24% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.5% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 1.9× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.2% | 22.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.5% | 12.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.7% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.2% | 23.7% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Alabama, Opelika is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice.
Opelika at a glance: 2.4× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of Opelika (1.2 → 3.0).
Overview
Since 2015, 625 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Opelika. They injured 241 people and killed 11.
That averages about one truck crash every 7 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (11.4% of the year) and are lowest in December (5.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.7% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
By time of day, 5–6 pm stands out with 7.7% of truck crashes.
1.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.8% across Alabama.
Where crashes happen
I-85 leads within 10 miles of Opelika with 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come US-280 (2), Cunningham Dr (1) and Mu-Old Columbus (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 12 crashes, 1.9% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
Route planning tips for Opelika fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-85, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 1.5% of truck crashes here, more than Alabama; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Opelika
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 8 |
| US-280 | 2 |
| Cunningham Dr | 1 |
| Mu-Old Columbus | 1 |
| Old Columbus Rd | 1 |
| SR-14 | 1 |
| SR-147 | 1 |
| SR-169 | 1 |
| SR-51 | 1 |
| US-29 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Opelika) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 321 |
| Columbus Parkway | 55 |
| Gateway Drive | 33 |
| Marvyn Parkway | 26 |
| Birmingham Highway | 22 |
| Fox Run Parkway | 11 |
| Columbus Pkwy | 9 |
| Marvyn Pkwy | 8 |
Opelika at a glance
| Population | 35,005 |
| Land area | 61.5 sq mi |
| Density | 569 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Opelika 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 | 1 | — | 2.9 |
| 2000s | 0 | -100% | 2.8 |
| 2010s | 34 | +4175% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 50 | +47% | 3.8 |
In the 1990s about 1 truck crash a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 50. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Opelika
How common are truck crashes in Opelika?
Opelika has had 625 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 241 people and killing 11.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Opelika?
I-85 had 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Opelika since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Opelika?
The worst month is August: 11.4% of truck crashes in Opelika happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Opelika?
12 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Opelika since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Opelika compare with Alabama?
The yearly rate is 152.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Opelika, vs 80.8 for Alabama.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Opelika?
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.