Matthews, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Matthews: 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 256 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Matthews compares with North Carolina
Matthews against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Matthews stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Matthews | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 69.9 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 64% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.58 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 12% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 14% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.9% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 48% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.2% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.4% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 49% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.3% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 12.0% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 41% below the state |
Matthews has lower values than North Carolina for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Matthews: 0.9 people killed per 100 truck crashes (North Carolina: 2.5).
Overview
Since 2015, 256 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Matthews. They injured 148 people and killed 2.
That averages about one truck crash every 16 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 12.5% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (5.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.3% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 11.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.9% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Matthews since 2015: I-485 (3), SR-16 (3), SR-218 (3), US-74 (2) and Blair Rd (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 2.0% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for Matthews fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 27.2% 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
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.
Reporting was incomplete in 2024, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Matthews
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-485 | 3 |
| SR-16 | 3 |
| SR-218 | 3 |
| US-74 | 2 |
| Blair Rd | 1 |
| Carmel Rd | 1 |
| Matheson Ave | 1 |
| Quail Hollow Rd | 1 |
| Randolph Rd | 1 |
| Rea Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Matthews) |
|---|---|
| E John St | 20 |
| E Independence Blvd | 19 |
| Sam Newell Rd | 7 |
| Monroe Rd | 5 |
| Industrial Dr | 5 |
| W John St | 5 |
| S Trade St | 5 |
| Matthews Township Pkwy | 4 |
Matthews at a glance
| Population | 32,048 |
| Land area | 17.1 sq mi |
| Density | 1,873 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28105) | $108,190 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28105) | $431,090 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Matthews 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 | 7 | — | 7.5 |
| 2000s | 13 | +84% | 8.1 |
| 2010s | 22 | +72% | 9.7 |
| 2020s | 21 | -2% | 11.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 7 to 21. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 12.0 a year in 2016–19 and 11.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Matthews
How many truck crashes happen in Matthews?
Matthews has had 256 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 148 people and killing 2.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Matthews?
Truck crashes in Matthews peak in October, with 12.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Matthews?
Since 2015, Matthews has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.0% of its truck crashes.
How does Matthews compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 69.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Matthews, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Matthews?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2024; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.