James Island, SC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in James Island: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in James Island and Charleston County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Charleston County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Charleston County compares with South Carolina
Charleston County against South Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Charleston County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Charleston County | South Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 53.5 | 61.6 | 49.7 | 13% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 41% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.72 | 0.64 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.4% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 0.4% | 6.2% | 20% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.4% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.3% | 11.4% | 13.8% | 27% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.0% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 12.9% | 21.5% | 24.8% | 40% below the state |
Charleston County sits below South Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above South Carolina on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Charleston County at a glance: 1 in 29 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 3.4%, vs 2.1% in South Carolina.
Overview
Police reported 2,566 crashes involving commercial trucks in Charleston County since 2015: 1,839 people were injured and 58 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
James Island had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Charleston County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (9.7% of the year) and are lowest in November (7.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.0% of truck crashes, against 40.5% across South Carolina.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.7% of truck crashes.
0.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.4% across South Carolina.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of James Island is SR-7, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by US-17 (3), I-26 (1) and I-526 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 87 of the truck crashes here, or 3.4%, compared with 2.1% in South Carolina.
Their busiest month is October, with 15% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 3.4 deaths compared with 2.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for James Island fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Charleston County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-7; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: October is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Charleston County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 29.4% of truck crashes here, more than South Carolina; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Charleston County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-7 | 4 |
| US-17 | 3 |
| I-26 | 1 |
| I-526 | 1 |
| SR-121 | 1 |
| SR-461 | 1 |
| SR-53 | 1 |
| SR-54 | 1 |
| SR-642 | 1 |
| SR-700 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Charleston County) |
|---|---|
| I-26 | 100 |
| Ashley Phosphate Rd | 67 |
| Long Point Rd | 44 |
| Main Rd | 28 |
| River Rd | 28 |
| Remount Rd | 28 |
| Ladson Rd | 26 |
| W Montague Ave | 21 |
James Island at a glance
| Population | 12,451 |
| Land area | 4.8 sq mi |
| Density | 2,573 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 29412) | $101,509 |
| Median home value (ZIP 29412) | $506,907 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Charleston 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 | 191 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 154 | -19% | 3.9 |
| 2010s | 209 | +35% | 3.8 |
| 2020s | 216 | +3% | 4.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 191 to 216. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 5.0 a year in 2016–19, 4.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about James Island
How many truck accidents are there in James Island?
Charleston County has had 2,566 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,839 people and killing 58.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in James Island?
NHTSA data shows SR-7 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of James Island since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in James Island?
May has the most truck crashes in Charleston County, 9.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in James Island?
Garbage trucks were involved in 87 reported crashes in Charleston County since 2015 (3.4% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in James Island compare with South Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Charleston County has 53.5 truck crashes a year; South Carolina has 61.6.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in James Island?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.