Saluda, SC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Saluda: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Saluda and Saluda County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Saluda County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 205 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Saluda County compares with South Carolina
Saluda County against South Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Saluda County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Saluda County | South Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 89.7 | 61.6 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.7 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.61 | 0.64 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 27% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.5% | 0.4% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.0% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.5% | 11.4% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.2% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.1% | 21.5% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Compared with South Carolina, Saluda County is lower on garbage-truck share. It runs above South Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Saluda County: March 11.7% of truck crashes happen in March, more than any other month.
Overview
Police reported 205 crashes involving commercial trucks in Saluda County since 2015: 142 people were injured and 9 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 21 days.
Only 130 truck crashes were reported in Saluda since 2015; patterns below come from Saluda County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 11.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 5.4%.
November through March accounts for 42.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.5% in South Carolina.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 8.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.5% of truck crashes, compared with 0.4% in South Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Saluda since 2015: SR-121 (1), SR-39 (1), SR-98 (1), US-178 (1) and US-378 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 2.0% of the total, against 2.1% across South Carolina.
Route planning tips for Saluda fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 0.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above South Carolina; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Saluda County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-121 | 1 |
| SR-39 | 1 |
| SR-98 | 1 |
| US-178 | 1 |
| US-378 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Saluda County) |
|---|---|
| Batesburg Hwy | 12 |
| Columbia Hwy | 9 |
| Johnston Hwy | 9 |
| Ridge Spring Hwy | 9 |
| Chappells Hwy | 8 |
| Spann Rd | 6 |
| Duncan Rd | 5 |
| Denny Hwy | 4 |
Saluda at a glance
| Population | 3,061 |
| Land area | 3.2 sq mi |
| Density | 942 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 29138) | $44,579 |
| Median home value (ZIP 29138) | $122,206 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Saluda 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 | 18 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 15 | -20% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 14 | -7% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 19 | +41% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 18 a year in the 1990s and 19 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Saluda
How many truck crashes happen in Saluda?
Since 2015, 205 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Saluda County (142 injured, 9 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Saluda?
Truck crashes in Saluda County peak in March, with 11.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Saluda?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Saluda County since 2015, 2.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Saluda compared with South Carolina?
The yearly rate is 89.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Saluda County, vs 61.6 for South Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Saluda?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.