Jefferson, GA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Jefferson: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Jefferson and Jackson County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Jackson County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 5.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Jackson County compares with Georgia
Jackson County against Georgia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jackson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jackson County | Georgia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 116.9 | 62.4 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 37% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 0.5% | 6.2% | 47% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.1% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.1% | 11.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.8% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 30.5% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Georgia, Jackson County is lower on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
Jefferson at a glance: I-85 deadliest road: 12 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Jefferson since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 1,304 crashes involving commercial trucks in Jackson County since 2015: 562 people were injured and 68 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
Only 125 truck crashes were reported in Jefferson since 2015; patterns below come from Jackson County as a whole.
56% of truck crash reports in Jackson County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (10.4% of the year) and are lowest in February (6.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.8% of truck crashes, against 40.9% across Georgia.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 7.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Georgia: 0.5%).
Where crashes happen
I-85 leads within 10 miles of Jefferson with 12 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-82 (4), SR-11 (2) and SR-53 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 21 of the truck crashes here, or 1.6%, compared with 2.6% in Georgia.
Their busiest month is April, with 24% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 5.0, vs 5.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Jefferson fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jackson County.
- Check whether your routes use I-85, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: April is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Jackson County.
- 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 Jackson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 12 |
| SR-82 | 4 |
| SR-11 | 2 |
| SR-53 | 2 |
| SR-0011 | 1 |
| SR-211 | 1 |
| SR-98 | 1 |
| Sr-15Al | 1 |
| Sr-15Alt Commerce Rd | 1 |
| US-129 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jackson County) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 16 |
| SR-53 | 9 |
| I-85 Sb / Ga 53 | 7 |
| I 85 S At Mm 136 | 5 |
| I 85 S Near 11 | 5 |
| SR-98 | 5 |
| SR-11 | 5 |
| I-85 Sb Mm 129 | 5 |
Jefferson at a glance
| Population | 16,459 |
| Land area | 23.0 sq mi |
| Density | 716 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 30549) | $96,195 |
| Median home value (ZIP 30549) | $350,455 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jackson 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 | 42 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 60 | +43% | 3.7 |
| 2010s | 67 | +12% | 2.3 |
| 2020s | 139 | +107% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 42 a year in the 1990s and 139 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.0 a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Jefferson
How many truck accidents are there in Jefferson?
1,304 truck crashes have been reported in Jackson County since 2015, with 68 deaths and 562 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Jefferson?
Since 2015, I-85 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Jefferson: 12.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson?
Truck crashes in Jackson County peak in August, with 10.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Jefferson?
21 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Jackson County since 2015, 1.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Jefferson compared with Georgia?
Per 100,000 residents, Jackson County has 116.9 truck crashes a year; Georgia has 62.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Jefferson?
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.