Sylva, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Sylva: 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
3 of 256 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Sylva compares with North Carolina
Sylva against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Sylva stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Sylva | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 816.6 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 13.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.1 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 52% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.7% | 1.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.1% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.7% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 33.5% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 18% below the state |
| After dark | 15.3% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 25% below the state |
Sylva sits below North Carolina on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and winter months (nov–mar). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
Sylva at a glance: 1 in 81 garbage-truck share of crashes is 1.2%, against 2.6% for North Carolina.
Overview
Sylva has recorded 256 truck crashes since 2015, with 133 people injured and 10 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 17 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 12.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 5.5%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 33.5% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (9.4%).
Road surface: 1.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-23 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). It is followed by Ssr-1367 Little Savannah Rd (1), US-441 (1) and US-74 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.2% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for Sylva fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-23; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 28.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Sylva
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-23 | 2 |
| Ssr-1367 Little Savannah Rd | 1 |
| US-441 | 1 |
| US-74 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Sylva) |
|---|---|
| Private Driveway | 1 |
| Skyland Dr | 1 |
| Sonic | 1 |
| Supertrack | 1 |
| Trays Island Rd | 1 |
| Twin Falls Ct | 1 |
| Wade Hampton Inn | 1 |
| Andy Shaw Ford | 1 |
Sylva at a glance
| Population | 2,694 |
| Land area | 3.2 sq mi |
| Density | 849 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28779) | $57,727 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28779) | $241,109 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Sylva 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 | 5 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 19 | +299% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 22 | +18% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 19 | -16% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 5 a year in the 1990s and 19 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Sylva
How many truck accidents are there in Sylva?
256 truck crashes have been reported in Sylva since 2015, with 10 deaths and 133 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Sylva?
Since 2015, US-23 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Sylva: 2.
When do most truck crashes happen in Sylva?
The worst month is August: 12.5% of truck crashes in Sylva happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Sylva?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Sylva since 2015 (1.2% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Sylva compare with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Sylva has 816.6 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Sylva?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.