Columbus, OH truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Columbus: 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Columbus compares with Ohio
Columbus against Ohio and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Columbus stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Columbus | Ohio | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 38.6 | 50.8 | 49.7 | 24% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 45% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 24% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.5% | 7.8% | 6.2% | 55% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.9% | 21.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.9% | 18.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.0% | 42.3% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 26.9% | 25.8% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Ohio, Columbus is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: injuries per crash.
The headline for Columbus: I-270 23 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 15 miles of Columbus.
Overview
Police reported 4,276 crashes involving commercial trucks in Columbus since 2015: 2,303 people were injured and 76 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (9.7% of the year) and are lowest in March (7.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.3% for Ohio.
The busiest hour is 12–1 am, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 3.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Ohio: 7.8%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 15 miles of Columbus is I-270, with 23 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-71 (18), I-70 (17) and US-23 (7).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 81 of the truck crashes here, or 1.9%, compared with 2.5% in Ohio.
Their busiest month is August, with 15% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Columbus fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-270, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Columbus
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-270 | 23 |
| I-71 | 18 |
| I-70 | 17 |
| US-23 | 7 |
| SR-16 | 3 |
| US-33 | 3 |
| CR-122 Alum Creek Dr | 2 |
| CR-22 Fisher Rd | 2 |
| CR-75 Cleveland Ave | 2 |
| SR-104 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Columbus) |
|---|---|
| Ir 70 | 998 |
| Ir 71 | 659 |
| Ir 270 | 657 |
| Ir 670 | 165 |
| SR-315 | 107 |
| High St | 85 |
| Broad St | 76 |
| SR-104 | 66 |
Columbus at a glance
| Population | 933,263 |
| Land area | 221.5 sq mi |
| Density | 4,213 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 43201) | $43,731 |
| Median home value (ZIP 43201) | $422,325 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Columbus 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 | — | 8.9 |
| 2000s | 210 | +5906% | 8.0 |
| 2010s | 355 | +69% | 7.8 |
| 2020s | 319 | -10% | 10.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 4 to 319. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 8.8 a year in 2016–19, 10.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Columbus
How many truck crashes happen in Columbus?
Columbus has had 4,276 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,303 people and killing 76.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Columbus?
NHTSA data shows I-270 with 23 fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Columbus since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Columbus?
September has the most truck crashes in Columbus, 9.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Columbus?
81 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Columbus since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
How does Columbus compare with Ohio for truck crashes?
Columbus records 38.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 50.8 across Ohio.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Columbus?
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.