Orange County, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Orange 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
15 of 1,142 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Orange County compares with North Carolina
Orange County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Orange County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Orange County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 63.0 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 16% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 52% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.7% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 2.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.6% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.6% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 24.7% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with North Carolina, Orange County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in Orange County: 4.7% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Overview
Orange County has recorded 1,142 truck crashes since 2015, with 655 people injured and 22 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 10.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 6.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.6% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (7.4%).
4.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
I-85 leads in Orange County with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-86 (3), I-40 (2) and SR-54 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
15 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.3% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for Orange County fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-85, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 4.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Carolina; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Orange County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Orange County) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 4 |
| SR-86 | 3 |
| I-40 | 2 |
| SR-54 | 2 |
| Dogwood Bloom | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| SR-1177 | 1 |
| SR-49 | 1 |
| SR-57 | 1 |
| US-70 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Orange County) |
|---|---|
| E Franklin St | 9 |
| Mt Carmel Church Rd | 4 |
| S Columbia St | 4 |
| Cornelius St | 3 |
| Pittsboro St | 3 |
| S Churton St | 3 |
| S Estes Dr | 3 |
| Smith Level Rd | 3 |
Orange County at a glance
| Population | 152,877 |
| Land area | 397.5 sq mi |
| Density | 385 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $96,384 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Orange 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 | 44 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 58 | +30% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 81 | +42% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 97 | +20% | 2.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 44 to 97. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Orange County
ZIP codes in Orange County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Orange County
How many truck crashes happen in Orange County?
Since 2015, 1,142 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Orange County (655 injured, 22 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Orange County?
NHTSA data shows I-85 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes in Orange County since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Orange County?
The worst month is February: 10.3% of truck crashes in Orange County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Orange County?
Since 2015, Orange County has reported 15 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Orange County compare with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 63.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Orange County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Orange County?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.