La Luz, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in La Luz: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in La Luz and Otero County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Otero County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 145 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Otero County compares with New Mexico
Otero County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Otero County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Otero County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 18.0 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 61% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.0 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 16% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 4.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.7% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 94% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.7% | 22.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.5% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 44% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.4% | 46.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.8% | 30.2% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Otero County has lower values than New Mexico for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Otero County: 1 in 46 crashes involve a garbage truck (3 since 2015), vs 0.4% across New Mexico.
Overview
Police reported 145 crashes involving commercial trucks in Otero County since 2015: 73 people were injured and 11 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 29 days.
With 2 truck crashes reported in La Luz since 2015, this page uses Otero County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
29% of truck crash reports in Otero County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 14.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 4.1%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.4% of truck crashes, against 46.8% across New Mexico.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (11.0%).
Road surface: 0.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Mexico: 12.1%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of La Luz since 2015 were spread across roads: US-54 (3) and US-82 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 2.1% of the total, against 0.4% across New Mexico.
Route planning tips for La Luz fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Otero County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Otero County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-54 | 3 |
| US-82 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Otero County) |
|---|---|
| US-54 | 15 |
| US-70 | 14 |
| US-82 | 5 |
| Us Hwy 54 Mile Post 86 | 4 |
| Hwy 54/70 | 3 |
| Sr 54 East | 3 |
| Us Highway 54 South | 3 |
| Alamo Relief Route | 2 |
La Luz at a glance
| Land area | 10.7 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 88337) | $60,597 |
| Median home value (ZIP 88337) | $193,546 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Otero 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 | 11 | — | 2.2 |
| 2000s | 8 | -27% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 14 | +65% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 10 | -23% | 1.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 11 to 10. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about La Luz
How common are truck crashes in La Luz?
145 truck crashes have been reported in Otero County since 2015, with 11 deaths and 73 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in La Luz?
The worst month is July: 14.5% of truck crashes in Otero County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in La Luz?
Since 2015, Otero County has reported 3 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.1% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in La Luz compare with New Mexico?
The yearly rate is 18.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Otero County, vs 45.6 for New Mexico.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in La Luz?
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.