Buena Vista County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Buena Vista 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
5 of 170 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Buena Vista County compares with Iowa
Buena Vista County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Buena Vista County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Buena Vista County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 68.6 | 68.1 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.4% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.0% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.7% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.7% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 17.8% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 23% below the state |
Buena Vista County sits below Iowa on in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Buena Vista County at a glance: US-71 most fatal truck crashes in Buena Vista County: 2 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 170 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Buena Vista County. They injured 69 people and killed 10.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 26 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 12.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 3.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 49.7% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (11.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.4% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Buena Vista County is US-71, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-007 (1), SR-3 (1) and US-20 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Buena Vista County fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-71, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.0% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; adjust start times where you can.
- 20.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Iowa; 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
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 Buena Vista County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Buena Vista County) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 2 |
| SR-007 | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
| US-20 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Buena Vista County) |
|---|---|
| Ia 7 | 4 |
| US-71 | 3 |
| SR-71 | 3 |
| 100Th Ave And C013/440Th St An | 3 |
| 20Th Ave And Ia 3 | 2 |
| C025/480Th St And Us 71/130Th | 2 |
| Highway 3, West Of M-54 | 2 |
| Hwy 71 & C-49 | 2 |
Buena Vista County at a glance
| Population | 20,816 |
| Land area | 574.9 sq mi |
| Density | 36 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $71,329 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Buena Vista 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 | 6 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 11 | +81% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 13 | +20% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 15 | +13% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 15 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Buena Vista County
ZIP codes in Buena Vista County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Buena Vista County
How common are truck crashes in Buena Vista County?
Buena Vista County has had 170 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 69 people and killing 10.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Buena Vista County?
NHTSA data shows US-71 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes in Buena Vista County since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Buena Vista County?
The worst month is January: 12.9% of truck crashes in Buena Vista County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Buena Vista County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Buena Vista County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
How does Buena Vista County compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Buena Vista County has 68.6 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Buena Vista County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.