West Jefferson, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in West Jefferson: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in West Jefferson and Ashe County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Ashe County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 142 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Ashe County compares with North Carolina
Ashe County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ashe County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ashe County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 46.7 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 24% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.0 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 100% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.3% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.9% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.7% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.1% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 32% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.6% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 12.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 40% below the state |
Ashe County sits below North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Ashe County at a glance: November the month with the most truck crashes: 16.9% of the year's total.
Overview
Police reported 142 crashes involving commercial trucks in Ashe County since 2015: 91 people were injured and 0 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 29 days in fully reported years.
With 46 truck crashes reported in West Jefferson since 2015, this page uses Ashe County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is November with 16.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 2.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.6% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 9.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.9% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of West Jefferson happened on US-221 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 6 crashes, 4.2% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for West Jefferson fleets
- Review driver schedules for November, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 25.7% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 2.9% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Ashe County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-221 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ashe County) |
|---|---|
| S Jefferson Ave | 3 |
| South Jefferson Ave | 3 |
| Ashe Hospital Pva | 1 |
| Campus Dr | 1 |
| Cross Creek Ln | 1 |
| Hardin Ln | 1 |
| Mt Jefferson Road | 1 |
| US-221 | 1 |
West Jefferson at a glance
| Population | 1,341 |
| Land area | 2.2 sq mi |
| Density | 623 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28694) | $58,486 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28694) | $275,072 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ashe 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 | 10 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 11 | +7% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 14 | +27% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 12 | -12% | 0.0 |
In the 1990s about 10 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 12. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about West Jefferson
How common are truck crashes in West Jefferson?
Since 2015, 142 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Ashe County (91 injured, 0 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in West Jefferson?
Truck crashes in Ashe County peak in November, with 16.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in West Jefferson?
Since 2015, Ashe County has reported 6 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.2% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in West Jefferson compare with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Ashe County has 46.7 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in West Jefferson?
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.