Rio Arriba County, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Rio Arriba 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
3 of 75 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Rio Arriba County compares with New Mexico
Rio Arriba County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Rio Arriba County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Rio Arriba County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 15.9 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 65% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 15.7 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.44 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 21% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.3% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 9.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.3% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 15.7% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 31% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.0% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 15% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.7% | 46.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.7% | 30.2% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Rio Arriba County sits below New Mexico on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above New Mexico on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Rio Arriba County: 1 in 23 crashes involve a garbage truck (3 since 2015), vs 0.4% across New Mexico.
Overview
Since 2015, 75 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Rio Arriba County. They injured 33 people and killed 13.
That averages about one truck crash every 57 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (14.7% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.7% of truck crashes, against 46.8% across New Mexico.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 12.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 14.3% of truck crashes, compared with 12.1% in New Mexico.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-550 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). After it: SR-68 (2), US-64 (2) and US-84 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 4.0% of the total, against 0.4% across New Mexico.
Route planning tips for Rio Arriba County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Rio Arriba County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-550; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 14.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above New Mexico), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Rio Arriba County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Rio Arriba County) |
|---|---|
| US-550 | 5 |
| SR-68 | 2 |
| US-64 | 2 |
| US-84 | 2 |
| SR-76 | 1 |
| US-285 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Rio Arriba County) |
|---|---|
| US-550 | 8 |
| US-84 | 5 |
| US-64 | 5 |
| State Road 68 | 2 |
| Bl0Ck Of South Riverside Drive | 1 |
| County Road 56A | 1 |
| County Road 69 | 1 |
| Hwy 84/285 Mm 197 | 1 |
Rio Arriba County at a glance
| Population | 39,955 |
| Land area | 5,860.9 sq mi |
| Density | 7 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $58,399 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Rio Arriba 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 | 2 | — | 2.1 |
| 2000s | 5 | +178% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 6 | +20% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 7 | +9% | 1.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 7. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Rio Arriba County
ZIP codes in Rio Arriba County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Rio Arriba County
How common are truck crashes in Rio Arriba County?
Since 2015, 75 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Rio Arriba County (33 injured, 13 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Rio Arriba County?
NHTSA data shows US-550 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes in Rio Arriba County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Rio Arriba County?
Truck crashes in Rio Arriba County peak in January, with 14.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Rio Arriba County?
Since 2015, Rio Arriba County has reported 3 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.0% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Rio Arriba County compare with New Mexico?
The yearly rate is 15.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Rio Arriba County, vs 45.6 for New Mexico.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Rio Arriba 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.