Chatham County, GA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chatham County: 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
1.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Chatham County compares with Georgia
Chatham County against Georgia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Chatham County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Chatham County | Georgia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 86.3 | 62.4 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.52 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 2.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.3% | 0.5% | 6.2% | 34% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.8% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.6% | 11.4% | 13.8% | 33% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.6% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.0% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 35% below the state |
Chatham County sits below Georgia on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Chatham County: I-16 most fatal truck crashes in Chatham County: 12 since 2015.
Overview
Chatham County has recorded 3,164 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,650 people injured and 90 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 10.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 7.2%.
November through March accounts for 39.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.9% in Georgia.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 8.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.3% of truck crashes, compared with 0.5% in Georgia.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-16 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (12). After it: I-95 (10), US-17 (4) and SR-204 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 80 crashes, 2.5% of the total, against 2.6% across Georgia.
Their busiest month is June, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.4 deaths compared with 2.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Chatham County fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Chatham County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-16; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at June schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 25.8% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Georgia.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Chatham County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Chatham County) |
|---|---|
| I-16 | 12 |
| I-95 | 10 |
| US-17 | 4 |
| SR-204 | 3 |
| SR-21 | 2 |
| SR-25 | 2 |
| US-80 | 2 |
| CR-081400 | 1 |
| Cantyre Street | 1 |
| Cs-E Victory Dr | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Chatham County) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 22 |
| SR-80 | 19 |
| SR-21 | 17 |
| Dean Forest Rd | 15 |
| I-16 | 14 |
| I 95 At I 16 | 8 |
| I-95 North / I-16 | 8 |
| Jimmy Deloach Pkwy / Morgan Lakes Ind Blvd | 8 |
Chatham County at a glance
| Population | 307,336 |
| Land area | 432.7 sq mi |
| Density | 710 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $71,619 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Chatham 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 | 127 | — | 3.3 |
| 2000s | 163 | +28% | 4.1 |
| 2010s | 180 | +10% | 3.6 |
| 2020s | 313 | +74% | 5.2 |
In the 1990s about 127 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 313. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.5 a year in 2016–19, 5.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Chatham County
ZIP codes in Chatham County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Chatham County
How common are truck crashes in Chatham County?
Chatham County has had 3,164 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,650 people and killing 90.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Chatham County?
I-16 had 12 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Chatham County since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Chatham County?
August has the most truck crashes in Chatham County, 10.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Chatham County?
80 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Chatham County since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
How does Chatham County compare with Georgia for truck crashes?
Chatham County records 86.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.4 across Georgia.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Chatham County?
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.