Decatur, GA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Decatur: 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
5 of 486 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Decatur compares with Georgia
Decatur against Georgia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Decatur stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Decatur | Georgia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 169.7 | 62.4 | 49.7 | 2.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.7 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 79% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 67% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 0.5% | 6.2% | 53% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 16.2% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 28% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.1% | 11.4% | 13.8% | 11% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.6% | 40.9% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 34.6% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Decatur has lower values than Georgia for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark.
The headline for Decatur: 1.9× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of Decatur (6.8 → 13.0).
Overview
Since 2015, 486 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Decatur. They injured 240 people and killed 4.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 11.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.2%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 37.6% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for Georgia.
By time of day, 12–1 am stands out with 9.9% of truck crashes.
0.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.5% across Georgia.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-285 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (24). It is followed by I-20 (13), I-85 (13) and I-75 (7).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 1.0% of the total, against 2.6% across Georgia.
Route planning tips for Decatur fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-285; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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 Decatur
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-285 | 24 |
| I-20 | 13 |
| I-85 | 13 |
| I-75 | 7 |
| US-23 | 3 |
| SR-10 | 2 |
| SR-54 | 2 |
| 4644 South Park Blvd | 1 |
| CR-044200 | 1 |
| CR-085100/NORTHERN Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Decatur) |
|---|---|
| I-285 | 28 |
| I 20 W Near Wesley Chapel Rd | 7 |
| I-285 @Flat Shoals Pkwy | 5 |
| I 20 E Near Panola Rd | 3 |
| I-20 West / Panola Rd | 3 |
| I 285 S Near Exit 48 | 3 |
| I-285 @Bouldercrest Rd | 3 |
| I 285 Exit 46B Rp | 3 |
Decatur at a glance
| Population | 24,482 |
| Land area | 4.6 sq mi |
| Density | 5,315 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 30030) | $126,830 |
| Median home value (ZIP 30030) | $630,657 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Decatur 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 | 5 | — | 6.1 |
| 2000s | 1 | -81% | 5.6 |
| 2010s | 34 | +3622% | 5.4 |
| 2020s | 36 | +6% | 10.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 36. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 5.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 10.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Decatur
How many truck accidents are there in Decatur?
Since 2015, 486 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Decatur (240 injured, 4 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Decatur?
NHTSA data shows I-285 with 24 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Decatur since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Decatur?
Truck crashes in Decatur peak in October, with 11.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Decatur?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Decatur since 2015, 1.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Decatur compared with Georgia?
Per 100,000 residents, Decatur has 169.7 truck crashes a year; Georgia has 62.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Decatur?
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.