Tatum, SC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Tatum: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Tatum and Marlboro County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Marlboro County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
10 of 327 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Marlboro County compares with South Carolina
Marlboro County against South Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Marlboro County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Marlboro County | South Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 111.6 | 61.6 | 49.7 | 1.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.7 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.75 | 0.64 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 0.4% | 6.2% | 100% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.9% | 11.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.9% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.0% | 21.5% | 24.8% | 26% below the state |
Compared with South Carolina, Marlboro County is lower on on snow, slush or ice and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Marlboro County: 0.0% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (South Carolina: 0.4%).
Overview
Since 2015, 327 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Marlboro County. They injured 242 people and killed 21.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 13 days.
With 3 truck crashes reported in Tatum since 2015, this page uses Marlboro County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 9.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.8%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.9% of truck crashes, against 40.5% across South Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (10.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.0% of truck crashes, compared with 0.4% in South Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-501 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: SR-38 (2), SR-381 (2) and SR-79 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
10 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.1% share (South Carolina: 2.1%).
Route planning tips for Tatum fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-501; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Marlboro County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-501 | 3 |
| SR-38 | 2 |
| SR-381 | 2 |
| SR-79 | 2 |
| US-15 | 2 |
| Hasty Rd | 1 |
| SR-23 | 1 |
| SR-34 | 1 |
| US-401 | 1 |
| US-74 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Marlboro County) |
|---|---|
| SR-38 | 27 |
| SR-9 | 13 |
| Beauty Spot Rd | 11 |
| Sc 38 | 7 |
| Highway 15-401 | 6 |
| Williamette Rd | 5 |
| Arcadia Rd | 4 |
| SR-177 | 4 |
Tatum at a glance
| Population | 70 |
| Land area | 0.9 sq mi |
| Density | 77 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 29594) | $53,125 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Marlboro 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 | 26 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 22 | -17% | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 27 | +22% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 26 | -2% | 1.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 26 a year in the 1990s and 26 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Tatum
How many truck crashes happen in Tatum?
327 truck crashes have been reported in Marlboro County since 2015, with 21 deaths and 242 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Tatum?
Since 2015, US-501 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Tatum: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Tatum?
The worst month is August: 9.8% of truck crashes in Marlboro County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Tatum?
Since 2015, Marlboro County has reported 10 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.1% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Tatum compared with South Carolina?
The yearly rate is 111.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Marlboro County, vs 61.6 for South Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Tatum?
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.