Brookhaven, GA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Brookhaven: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Brookhaven and DeKalb County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use DeKalb 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 1.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How DeKalb County compares with Georgia
DeKalb County against Georgia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where DeKalb County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | DeKalb County | Georgia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 82.0 | 62.4 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.6 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 52% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 28% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.3% | 0.5% | 6.2% | 43% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.3% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 15% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.8% | 11.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.6% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 29.3% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
DeKalb County sits below Georgia on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Georgia on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark.
What stands out in Brookhaven: I-285 deadliest road: 27 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Brookhaven since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 7,519 crashes involving commercial trucks in DeKalb County since 2015: 3,492 people were injured and 116 were killed.
That averages about 2 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
Only 35 truck crashes were reported in Brookhaven since 2015; patterns below come from DeKalb County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (9.2% of the year) and are lowest in December (7.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.6% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for Georgia.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (6.9%).
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-285 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (27). Next come I-85 (18), I-75 (16) and SR-10 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 143 of the truck crashes here, or 1.9%, compared with 2.6% in Georgia.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in July (13%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.3, vs 1.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Brookhaven fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-285 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in July; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 DeKalb County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-285 | 27 |
| I-85 | 18 |
| I-75 | 16 |
| SR-10 | 2 |
| SR-13 | 2 |
| SR-140 | 2 |
| SR-141 | 2 |
| SR-280 | 2 |
| US-23 | 2 |
| CR-085100/NORTHERN Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (DeKalb County) |
|---|---|
| I-285 | 266 |
| I-20 | 37 |
| I 285 Or At I 285 Ir | 36 |
| I 285 N At I 20 | 29 |
| I 285 Ir At I 285 Or | 23 |
| I-285 Or | 23 |
| I-20 West | 22 |
| I 20 W At I 20 | 22 |
Brookhaven at a glance
| Population | 59,370 |
| Land area | 12.2 sq mi |
| Density | 4,850 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in DeKalb 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 | 366 | — | 6.1 |
| 2000s | 413 | +13% | 5.6 |
| 2010s | 449 | +9% | 5.4 |
| 2020s | 710 | +58% | 10.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 366 to 710. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 5.8 a year in 2016–19 and 10.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Brookhaven
How common are truck crashes in Brookhaven?
Since 2015, 7,519 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in DeKalb County (3,492 injured, 116 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Brookhaven?
I-285 had 27 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Brookhaven since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Brookhaven?
Truck crashes in DeKalb County peak in August, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Brookhaven?
143 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in DeKalb County since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Brookhaven compared with Georgia?
The yearly rate is 82.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in DeKalb County, vs 62.4 for Georgia.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Brookhaven?
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.