Galveston County, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Galveston County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
19 of 1,047 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Galveston County compares with Texas
Galveston County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Galveston County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Galveston County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 24.5 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 61% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 39% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.59 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 76% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.7% | 22.6% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.6% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.7% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.6% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 28% below the state |
Compared with Texas, Galveston County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Texas on garbage-truck share.
The headline for Galveston County: 1 in 52 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 1.9%, vs 1.1% in Texas.
Overview
Police reported 1,047 crashes involving commercial trucks in Galveston County since 2015: 625 people were injured and 27 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (10.1% of the year) and are lowest in December (6.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.7% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Texas.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 9.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Texas: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Galveston County is SR-146, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by I-45 (4), Fm 517 (2) and SR-275 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
19 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.8% share (Texas: 1.1%).
Route planning tips for Galveston County fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use SR-146, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Galveston County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Galveston County) |
|---|---|
| SR-146 | 6 |
| I-45 | 4 |
| Fm 517 | 2 |
| SR-275 | 2 |
| SR-87 | 2 |
| 2nd Ave | 1 |
| Fm 1765 | 1 |
| Fm 2004 | 1 |
| Fm 2004/Camp Wallace Rd | 1 |
| Fm 270 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Galveston County) |
|---|---|
| I-45 | 50 |
| J Ave | 24 |
| Gulf Fwy | 23 |
| Fm 2004 | 23 |
| Harborside Dr | 18 |
| Ave J | 17 |
| Seawall Blvd | 17 |
| Sh 146 | 14 |
Galveston County at a glance
| Population | 367,407 |
| Land area | 379.4 sq mi |
| Density | 968 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $93,573 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Galveston 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 | 78 | — | 2.5 |
| 2000s | 66 | -15% | 1.6 |
| 2010s | 68 | +2% | 2.4 |
| 2020s | 100 | +48% | 3.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 78 a year in the 1990s and 100 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.2 a year in 2016–19, 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Galveston County
ZIP codes in Galveston County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Galveston County
How many truck crashes happen in Galveston County?
Since 2015, 1,047 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Galveston County (625 injured, 27 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Galveston County?
SR-146 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Galveston County since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Galveston County?
The worst month is July: 10.1% of truck crashes in Galveston County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Galveston County?
19 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Galveston County since 2015, 1.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Galveston County compare with Texas?
Galveston County records 24.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.9 across Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Galveston County?
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.