Watauga, TN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Watauga: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Watauga and Carter County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Carter County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
8 of 178 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Carter County compares with Tennessee
Carter County against Tennessee and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Carter County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Carter County | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 25.8 | 60.1 | 49.7 | 57% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.9% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 2.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.5% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 2.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.7% | 21.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.5% | 14.9% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 36.2% | 40.5% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 17.8% | 25.9% | 24.8% | 31% below the state |
Carter County has lower values than Tennessee for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Carter County: 1 in 20 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.9%, against 1.9% for Tennessee.
Overview
Carter County has recorded 178 truck crashes since 2015, with 69 people injured and 7 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 25 days.
With 6 truck crashes reported in Watauga since 2015, this page uses Carter County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
50% of truck crash reports in Carter County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 15.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 3.9%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 36.2% of truck crashes, vs 40.5% for Tennessee.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 10.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 5.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Tennessee: 2.3%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-11E had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). After it: CR-MOUNTAIN View Dr (1), Fordtown Rd (1) and SR-36 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 8 crashes, 4.5% of the total, against 1.9% across Tennessee.
Route planning tips for Watauga fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-11E at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 5.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Tennessee; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Carter County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-11E | 2 |
| CR-MOUNTAIN View Dr | 1 |
| Fordtown Rd | 1 |
| SR-36 | 1 |
| SR-362 | 1 |
| SR-381 | 1 |
| US-19E | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Carter County) |
|---|---|
| SR-19E | 33 |
| SR-321 | 18 |
| US-19E | 15 |
| US-321 | 11 |
| W Elk Ave | 10 |
| Piney Flats Rd | 6 |
| Simerly Creek Rd | 6 |
| Broad St | 4 |
Watauga at a glance
| Population | 367 |
| Land area | 0.9 sq mi |
| Density | 420 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 37694) | $81,250 |
| Median home value (ZIP 37694) | $210,977 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Carter 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 | 5 | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 8 | +82% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 12 | +42% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 17 | +38% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 17. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Watauga
How many truck crashes happen in Watauga?
Since 2015, 178 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Carter County (69 injured, 7 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Watauga?
US-11E had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Watauga since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Watauga?
Truck crashes in Carter County peak in September, with 15.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Watauga?
Garbage trucks were involved in 8 reported crashes in Carter County since 2015 (4.5% of truck crashes).
How does Watauga compare with Tennessee for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 25.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Carter County, vs 60.1 for Tennessee.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Watauga?
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.