New Hanover County, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in New Hanover 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
2.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How New Hanover County compares with North Carolina
New Hanover County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2024 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where New Hanover County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2024) | New Hanover County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 34.4 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 44% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 18% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.3% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 79% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.6% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 18% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.9% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 11.3% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 44% below the state |
New Hanover County has lower values than North Carolina for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
New Hanover County at a glance: 1 in 23 crashes involve a garbage truck (41 since 2015), vs 2.6% across North Carolina.
Overview
New Hanover County has recorded 924 truck crashes since 2015, with 500 people injured and 19 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 10.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 6.5%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.9% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (9.7%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.4% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in New Hanover County is US-421, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by Ssr-1336 Sidbury Rd (2), US-17 (2) and Covil Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 41 of the truck crashes here, or 4.4%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in October (12% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.8, vs 1.9 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for New Hanover County fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in New Hanover County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-421; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: October is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in New Hanover County.
- Morning starts matter: 25.9% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than North Carolina.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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.
Crash reporting for 2025 is incomplete; those years are shown in grey and not used for rates.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in New Hanover County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in New Hanover County) |
|---|---|
| US-421 | 3 |
| Ssr-1336 Sidbury Rd | 2 |
| US-17 | 2 |
| Covil Ave | 1 |
| I-40 | 1 |
| Morningside Dr | 1 |
| S 17th St | 1 |
| SR-133 | 1 |
| Ssr-1002 Holly Shelter Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1175 N Kerr Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (New Hanover County) |
|---|---|
| Market St | 54 |
| Carolina Beach Rd | 54 |
| S College Rd | 33 |
| S 17Th St | 17 |
| Oleander Dr | 14 |
| Shipyard Blvd | 13 |
| Eastwood Rd | 12 |
| Martin Luther King Jr | 12 |
New Hanover County at a glance
| Population | 243,333 |
| Land area | 192.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,266 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $79,497 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in New Hanover 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 | 50 | — | 1.6 |
| 2000s | 62 | +23% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 84 | +37% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 71 | -16% | 2.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 50 a year in the 1990s and 71 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in New Hanover County
ZIP codes in New Hanover County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about New Hanover County
How common are truck crashes in New Hanover County?
New Hanover County has had 924 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 500 people and killing 19.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in New Hanover County?
US-421 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck in New Hanover County since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in New Hanover County?
The worst month is March: 10.2% of truck crashes in New Hanover County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in New Hanover County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 41 reported crashes in New Hanover County since 2015 (4.4% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in New Hanover County compared with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, New Hanover County has 34.4 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in New Hanover County?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2025; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.