Big Spring, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Big Spring: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Big Spring and Howard County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Howard County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 913 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Howard County compares with Texas
Howard County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Howard County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Howard County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 255.3 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 4.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.4 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.69 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.1% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 89% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.2% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 2.0× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.5% | 22.6% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.8% | 11.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.7% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 30.2% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Howard County has lower values than Texas for garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Howard County: 3.2% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Texas: 1.7%).
Overview
Howard County has recorded 913 truck crashes since 2015, with 617 people injured and 56 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 5 days in fully reported years.
Only 160 truck crashes were reported in Big Spring since 2015; patterns below come from Howard County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (10.1% of the year) and are lowest in December (6.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.7% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Texas.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (7.8%).
Road surface: 3.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Texas: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
I-20 leads within 10 miles of Big Spring with 12 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-87 (8), SR-350 (3) and SR-176 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.1% share (Texas: 1.1%).
Route planning tips for Big Spring fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Howard County.
- Look at alternatives to I-20 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 3.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Texas), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Howard County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 12 |
| US-87 | 8 |
| SR-350 | 3 |
| SR-176 | 2 |
| CR-35 | 1 |
| Fm 700 Marcy Dr | 1 |
| Rm 33 | 1 |
| Rm33 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Howard County) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 48 |
| US-87 | 18 |
| Sh 350 | 6 |
| Sh 176 | 5 |
| Fm 669 | 4 |
| N 1400 Lamesa Hwy | 4 |
| N 1000 Benton St | 3 |
| S 1700 Gregg St | 3 |
Big Spring at a glance
| Population | 22,541 |
| Land area | 19.1 sq mi |
| Density | 1,177 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Howard 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 | 23 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 36 | +54% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 73 | +104% | 3.0 |
| 2020s | 72 | -1% | 4.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 23 a year in the 1990s and 72 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.5 a year in 2016–19, 4.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Big Spring
How common are truck crashes in Big Spring?
Howard County has had 913 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 617 people and killing 56.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Big Spring?
Since 2015, I-20 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Big Spring: 12.
When do most truck crashes happen in Big Spring?
Truck crashes in Howard County peak in May, with 10.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Big Spring?
Since 2015, Howard County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.1% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Big Spring compare with Texas?
Howard County records 255.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.9 across Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Big Spring?
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.