Nelson County, KY truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Nelson 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 394 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Nelson County compares with Kentucky
Nelson County against Kentucky and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Nelson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Nelson County | Kentucky | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 70.4 | 68.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.8 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 24% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.3% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 50% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.7% | 5.0% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.5% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.1% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 20% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.3% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 20.4% | 24.4% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Nelson County sits below Kentucky on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Kentucky on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Nelson County: January 14.2% of truck crashes happen in January, more than any other month.
Overview
Nelson County has recorded 394 truck crashes since 2015, with 136 people injured and 18 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 11 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 14.2% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (4.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.3% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for Kentucky.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 9.6% of truck crashes.
7.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 5.0% across Kentucky.
Where crashes happen
SR-9002 leads in Nelson County with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-245 (4), SR-457 (1) and SR-48 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.3% share (Kentucky: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for Nelson County fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-9002; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Morning starts matter: 25.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Kentucky.
- With 7.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Kentucky), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Nelson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Nelson County) |
|---|---|
| SR-9002 | 5 |
| SR-245 | 4 |
| SR-457 | 1 |
| SR-48 | 1 |
| US-31 | 1 |
| US-62 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Nelson County) |
|---|---|
| Bg9002 | 111 |
| Ky0245 | 62 |
| US-0031E | 51 |
| US-0150 | 38 |
| US-0062 | 32 |
| Ky0052 | 17 |
| Ky0049 | 9 |
| Ky0247 | 7 |
Nelson County at a glance
| Population | 48,706 |
| Land area | 418.7 sq mi |
| Density | 116 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $72,477 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Nelson 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 | 11 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 20 | +88% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 28 | +38% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 38 | +33% | 1.2 |
In the 1990s about 11 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 38. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Nelson County
ZIP codes in Nelson County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Nelson County
How common are truck crashes in Nelson County?
394 truck crashes have been reported in Nelson County since 2015, with 18 deaths and 136 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Nelson County?
SR-9002 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Nelson County since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Nelson County?
The worst month is January: 14.2% of truck crashes in Nelson County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Nelson County?
Since 2015, Nelson County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Nelson County compare with Kentucky?
Per 100,000 residents, Nelson County has 70.4 truck crashes a year; Kentucky has 68.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Nelson County?
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.