South Bay, FL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in South Bay: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in South Bay and Palm Beach County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Palm Beach County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.6 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Palm Beach County compares with Florida
Palm Beach County against Florida and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Palm Beach County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Palm Beach County | Florida | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 34.7 | 37.4 | 49.7 | 7% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.52 | 0.51 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.4% | 3.8% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 0.1% | 6.2% | 2.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.1% | 25.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.4% | 8.9% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.2% | 42.1% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.2% | 24.2% | 24.8% | same |
Palm Beach County sits below Florida on crashes per 100k residents / yr and deaths per 100 crashes. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Palm Beach County: 0.2% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 0.1% in Florida.
Overview
Palm Beach County has recorded 6,324 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,258 people injured and 229 killed.
That averages about 2 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
With 66 truck crashes reported in South Bay since 2015, this page uses Palm Beach County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (9.6% of the year) and are lowest in June (7.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.2% of truck crashes, vs 42.1% for Florida.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Florida: 0.1%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-27 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (7). After it: Duda Rd (2), SR-715 (2) and 1st St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 277 of the truck crashes here, or 4.4%, compared with 3.8% in Florida.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (10% of them).
They recorded 2.6 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for South Bay fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-27; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 0.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Florida; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Palm Beach County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-27 | 7 |
| Duda Rd | 2 |
| SR-715 | 2 |
| 1st St | 1 |
| Dh-21 Dirt Rd | 1 |
| George Wedgworth Way | 1 |
| Mu-16th St | 1 |
| SR-80 | 1 |
| US-98 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Palm Beach County) |
|---|---|
| Interstate 95 (State Road 9) | 317 |
| I-95 | 258 |
| Southern Blvd | 174 |
| Nb Interstate 95 (State Road 9) | 112 |
| Sb Interstate 95 (State Road 9) | 112 |
| US-441 | 108 |
| State Road 91 (Florida Turnpike) | 96 |
| State Road 91 (Floridas Turnpike) | 89 |
South Bay at a glance
| Population | 5,160 |
| Land area | 2.9 sq mi |
| Density | 1,803 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Palm Beach 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 | 131 | — | 18.5 |
| 2000s | 296 | +126% | 17.0 |
| 2010s | 406 | +37% | 11.3 |
| 2020s | 575 | +42% | 18.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 131 a year in the 1990s and 575 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 15.2 a year in 2016–19, 18.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about South Bay
How many truck crashes happen in South Bay?
6,324 truck crashes have been reported in Palm Beach County since 2015, with 229 deaths and 3,258 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in South Bay?
Since 2015, US-27 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of South Bay: 7.
When do most truck crashes happen in South Bay?
The worst month is March: 9.6% of truck crashes in Palm Beach County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in South Bay?
Garbage trucks were involved in 277 reported crashes in Palm Beach County since 2015 (4.4% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in South Bay compare with Florida?
The yearly rate is 34.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Palm Beach County, vs 37.4 for Florida.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in South Bay?
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.