Taos, MO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Taos: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Taos and Cole County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cole County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
14 of 452 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cole County compares with Missouri
Cole County against Missouri and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cole County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cole County | Missouri | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 50.1 | 85.9 | 49.7 | 42% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 2.7 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.3% | 7.2% | 6.2% | 54% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.1% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.1% | 10.7% | 13.8% | 52% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.8% | 40.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.8% | 24.7% | 24.8% | 32% below the state |
Cole County sits below Missouri on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Taos: US-54 2 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Taos.
Overview
Since 2015, 452 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Cole County. They injured 152 people and killed 12.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
Only 3 truck crashes were reported in Taos since 2015; patterns below come from Cole County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 11.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.6%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.8% of truck crashes, vs 40.7% for Missouri.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 9.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 3.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Missouri: 7.2%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Taos is US-54, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-179 (1), Sr-C (1) and Sr-M (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 14 of the truck crashes here, or 3.1%, compared with 2.2% in Missouri.
Route planning tips for Taos fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-54 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.1% of truck crashes here, more than Missouri; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Cole County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-54 | 2 |
| SR-179 | 1 |
| Sr-C | 1 |
| Sr-M | 1 |
| US-63 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cole County) |
|---|---|
| US-54 | 97 |
| US-50 | 83 |
| Rt B | 31 |
| Rt C | 23 |
| Mo 179 | 23 |
| Cst Missouri Blvd | 22 |
| Cst W Truman Blvd | 9 |
| Cst Christy Dr | 7 |
Taos at a glance
| Population | 1,175 |
| Land area | 6.4 sq mi |
| Density | 183 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 65101) | $74,807 |
| Median home value (ZIP 65101) | $243,200 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cole 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 | 37 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 26 | -30% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 29 | +11% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 38 | +30% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 37 to 38. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Taos
How many truck accidents are there in Taos?
452 truck crashes have been reported in Cole County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 152 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Taos?
NHTSA data shows US-54 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Taos since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Taos?
Truck crashes in Cole County peak in October, with 11.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Taos?
Garbage trucks were involved in 14 reported crashes in Cole County since 2015 (3.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Taos compared with Missouri?
Cole County records 50.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 85.9 across Missouri.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Taos?
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.