Tucson, AZ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Tucson: 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
21 of 1,118 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Tucson compares with Arizona
Tucson against Arizona and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Tucson stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Tucson | Arizona | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 16.9 | 35.9 | 49.7 | 53% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.0 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.17 | 0.19 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 3.2% | 6.2% | 88% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.7% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 4.0% | 5.3% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.1% | 42.1% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 23.7% | 30.0% | 24.8% | 21% below the state |
Tucson has lower values than Arizona for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Tucson: 1.8× yearly fatal truck crashes within 15 miles of Tucson: 5.0 in 2016–19, 8.8 in 2020–24.
Overview
Tucson has recorded 1,118 truck crashes since 2015, with 217 people injured and 85 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (9.6% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.7%).
November through March accounts for 45.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.1% in Arizona.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (8.7%).
0.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.2% across Arizona.
Where crashes happen
I-10 leads within 15 miles of Tucson with 25 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come Valencia Rd (4), I-19 (3) and Broadway Blvd (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 21 crashes, 1.9% of the total, against 1.6% across Arizona.
Their busiest month is May, with 19% of garbage-truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Tucson fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Tucson.
- Check whether your routes use I-10, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in May; review collection routes for that month.
- 26.7% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Arizona; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Tucson
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-10 | 25 |
| Valencia Rd | 4 |
| I-19 | 3 |
| Broadway Blvd | 2 |
| Golf Links Rd | 2 |
| Ruthrauff Rd | 2 |
| SR-19 | 2 |
| 36th St | 1 |
| Ajo Way | 1 |
| Bear Canyon Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Tucson) |
|---|---|
| I-10 Noncard@M262 | 24 |
| I-10 Noncard@M255 | 22 |
| I-10 Noncard@M257 | 15 |
| I-10 Noncard@M261 | 12 |
| I-10 Noncard@M256 | 11 |
| I-10 Noncard@M254 | 10 |
| I-10 Noncard@M258 | 10 |
| I-10 Noncard@M259 | 9 |
Tucson at a glance
| Population | 554,013 |
| Land area | 242.2 sq mi |
| Density | 2,287 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 85708) | $63,919 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Tucson 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 | 23 | — | 6.5 |
| 2000s | 86 | +274% | 7.4 |
| 2010s | 48 | -44% | 7.3 |
| 2020s | 91 | +90% | 12.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 23 to 91. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 7.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 12.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Tucson
How many truck accidents are there in Tucson?
Tucson has had 1,118 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 217 people and killing 85.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Tucson?
Since 2015, I-10 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Tucson: 25.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Tucson?
Truck crashes in Tucson peak in February, with 9.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Tucson?
Since 2015, Tucson has reported 21 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.9% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Tucson compare with Arizona?
Per 100,000 residents, Tucson has 16.9 truck crashes a year; Arizona has 35.9.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Tucson?
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.