New Salem, KS truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in New Salem: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in New Salem and Cowley County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cowley County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 200 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cowley County compares with Kansas
Cowley County against Kansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cowley County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cowley County | Kansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 52.1 | 61.4 | 49.7 | 15% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.6 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 25% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.24 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 25% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 2.1% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.1% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 45% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.4% | 23.1% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.2% | 15.2% | 13.8% | 19% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.4% | 42.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.3% | 23.2% | 24.8% | 30% below the state |
Cowley County sits below Kansas on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Cowley County at a glance: 5.1% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 9.3% across Kansas.
Overview
Police reported 200 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cowley County since 2015: 50 people were injured and 7 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 20 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in New Salem since 2015, this page uses Cowley County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
64% of truck crash reports in Cowley County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 11.0% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (5.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.4% of truck crashes, vs 42.2% for Kansas.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 11.0% of truck crashes.
5.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.3% across Kansas.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of New Salem since 2015: US-160 (3) and SR-15 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 4 of the truck crashes here, or 2.0%, compared with 2.1% in Kansas.
Route planning tips for New Salem fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Cowley County.
- 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 Cowley County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-160 | 3 |
| SR-15 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cowley County) |
|---|---|
| Summit | 8 |
| 202Nd | 6 |
| 21St | 6 |
| Chestnut | 5 |
| 32Nd | 5 |
| 92Nd | 3 |
| 71St | 3 |
| 101St | 2 |
New Salem at a glance
| Land area | 0.4 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 67019) | $60,833 |
| Median home value (ZIP 67019) | $90,351 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cowley 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 | 13 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 12 | -8% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 18 | +46% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 17 | -4% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 13 to 17. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about New Salem
How common are truck crashes in New Salem?
Since 2015, 200 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Cowley County (50 injured, 7 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in New Salem?
December has the most truck crashes in Cowley County, 11.0% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in New Salem?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cowley County since 2015, 2.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in New Salem compared with Kansas?
The yearly rate is 52.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Cowley County, vs 61.4 for Kansas.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in New Salem?
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.