Waxhaw, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Waxhaw: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Waxhaw and Union County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Union County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Union County compares with North Carolina
Union County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Union County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Union County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 61.1 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.70 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.3% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 74% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.1% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.3% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 30% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.2% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.3% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 10% below the state |
Union County has lower values than North Carolina for deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above North Carolina on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Waxhaw: SR-5 deadliest road: 5 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Waxhaw since 2015.
Overview
Union County has recorded 1,866 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,295 people injured and 34 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
Waxhaw had 60 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Union County numbers.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 9.8% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (6.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.2% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 8.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-5 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). Next come SR-16 (2), SR-200 (2) and Rea Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 62 of the truck crashes here, or 3.3%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Their busiest month is October, with 15% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 1.9 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Waxhaw fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use SR-5, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in October; review collection routes for that month.
- 26.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Union County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-5 | 5 |
| SR-16 | 2 |
| SR-200 | 2 |
| Rea Rd | 1 |
| SR-522 | 1 |
| Ssr-1137 S Potter Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Union County) |
|---|---|
| US-74 | 24 |
| Skyway Dr | 23 |
| Old Charlotte Hwy | 20 |
| Old Monroe Rd | 18 |
| Stallings Rd | 15 |
| Morgan Mill Rd | 14 |
| W Roosevelt Blvd | 10 |
| Potter Rd | 9 |
Waxhaw at a glance
| Population | 23,178 |
| Land area | 12.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,901 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28173) | $150,597 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28173) | $605,328 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Union 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 | 54 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 98 | +80% | 2.9 |
| 2010s | 148 | +52% | 2.8 |
| 2020s | 138 | -7% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 54 a year in the 1990s and 138 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.0 a year in 2016–19, 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Waxhaw
How many truck crashes happen in Waxhaw?
Union County has had 1,866 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,295 people and killing 34.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Waxhaw?
NHTSA data shows SR-5 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Waxhaw since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Waxhaw?
July has the most truck crashes in Union County, 9.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Waxhaw?
62 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Union County since 2015, 3.3% of all truck crashes.
How does Waxhaw compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Union County has 61.1 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Waxhaw?
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.