Lincoln County, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lincoln 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
1 of 123 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lincoln County compares with New Mexico
Lincoln County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lincoln County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lincoln County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 54.9 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.4 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 22% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 25% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.3% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 73% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.5% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 4.1% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 65% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.8% | 46.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 31.4% | 30.2% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with New Mexico, Lincoln County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Lincoln County: 1 in 120 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.8%, vs 0.4% in New Mexico.
Overview
Police reported 123 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lincoln County since 2015: 53 people were injured and 9 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 33 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is May with 13.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 4.9%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.8% of truck crashes, against 46.8% across New Mexico.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 3.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Mexico: 12.1%).
Where crashes happen
US-54 leads in Lincoln County with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-70 (3) and SR-48 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 0.8%, compared with 0.4% in New Mexico.
Route planning tips for Lincoln County fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lincoln County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-54; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Morning starts matter: 26.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than New Mexico.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Lincoln County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Lincoln County) |
|---|---|
| US-54 | 6 |
| US-70 | 3 |
| SR-48 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lincoln County) |
|---|---|
| US-54 | 19 |
| US-70 | 10 |
| SR-54 | 3 |
| US-380 | 3 |
| SR-70 | 2 |
| Sudderth Dr | 2 |
| Sudderth Drive & Weldon Ave | 2 |
| Us 54 Mm 133 | 2 |
Lincoln County at a glance
| Population | 20,025 |
| Land area | 4,831.1 sq mi |
| Density | 4 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $55,162 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lincoln 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 | 4 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 8 | +75% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 10 | +25% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 10 | +9% | 1.4 |
In the 1990s about 4 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 10. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Lincoln County
ZIP codes in Lincoln County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Lincoln County
How common are truck crashes in Lincoln County?
123 truck crashes have been reported in Lincoln County since 2015, with 9 deaths and 53 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Lincoln County?
US-54 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Lincoln County since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Lincoln County?
The worst month is May: 13.0% of truck crashes in Lincoln County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Lincoln County?
Since 2015, Lincoln County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.8% of its truck crashes.
How does Lincoln County compare with New Mexico for truck crashes?
Lincoln County records 54.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 45.6 across New Mexico.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Lincoln County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.