Bristol, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bristol: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bristol and Day County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Day County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 53 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Day County compares with South Dakota
Day County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Day County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Day County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 80.7 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 60% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.1% | 28.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.9% | 22.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.4% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 41% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 35.4% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 27% below the state |
| After dark | 25.0% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Day County sits below South Dakota on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and after dark.
What stands out in Day County: February the month with the most truck crashes: 15.1% of the year's total.
Overview
Day County has recorded 53 truck crashes since 2015, with 7 people injured and 2 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 84 days in fully reported years.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Bristol since 2015; patterns below come from Day County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (15.1% of the year) and are lowest in November (1.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 35.4% of truck crashes, against 48.8% across South Dakota.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 13.2% of truck crashes.
27.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 28.6% across South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Bristol happened on US-12 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 1.9% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Bristol fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Day County.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Day County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Day County) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 39 |
| Sd Hwy 25 | 4 |
| Ave | 1 |
| Main Street | 1 |
| Sd Hwy 27 | 1 |
Bristol at a glance
| Population | 275 |
| Land area | 0.5 sq mi |
| Density | 527 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57219) | $51,900 |
| Median home value (ZIP 57219) | $94,583 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Day 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 | 3 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 3 | +7% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 5 | +53% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 5 | +5% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 a year in the 1990s and 5 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bristol
How common are truck crashes in Bristol?
Day County has had 53 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 7 people and killing 2.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Bristol?
February has the most truck crashes in Day County, 15.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Bristol?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Day County since 2015 (1.9% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Bristol compared with South Dakota?
The yearly rate is 80.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Day County, vs 42.0 for South Dakota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Bristol?
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.