Essex County, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Essex 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
9 of 117 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Essex County compares with Virginia
Essex County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Essex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Essex County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 96.2 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.5 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.66 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 8.0% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 3.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.9% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 71% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 33.6% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 1.5× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.3% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 36.3% | 39.8% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 10.6% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 56% below the state |
Essex County has lower values than Virginia for on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Essex County: 1 in 13 crashes involve a garbage truck (9 since 2015), vs 2.5% across Virginia.
Overview
Since 2015, 117 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Essex County. They injured 75 people and killed 4.
That averages about one truck crash every 36 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (12.8% of the year) and are lowest in May (5.1%).
November through March accounts for 36.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 39.8% in Virginia.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 13.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Virginia: 3.0%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Essex County since 2015 were spread across roads: US-17 (3) and CR-659 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
9 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 7.7% share (Virginia: 2.5%).
Route planning tips for Essex County fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 33.6% of truck crashes here, more than Virginia; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Essex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Essex County) |
|---|---|
| US-17 | 3 |
| CR-659 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Essex County) |
|---|---|
| Route 17 Church Lane | 14 |
| Tidewater Trail | 9 |
| Route 17 Tappahannock Boulevard | 8 |
| Richmond Highway | 7 |
| Rt 17-Tidewater Trail | 5 |
| Tidewater Trail - Rt 17 | 5 |
| Rt 17/Tidewater Trail | 3 |
| 360/Richmond Hwy | 2 |
Essex County at a glance
| Population | 10,683 |
| Land area | 257.4 sq mi |
| Density | 42 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $59,272 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Essex 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 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 7 | +41% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 8 | +7% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 10 | +29% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 5 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 10. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Essex County
ZIP codes in Essex County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Essex County
How many truck crashes happen in Essex County?
Since 2015, 117 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Essex County (75 injured, 4 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Essex County?
The worst month is August: 12.8% of truck crashes in Essex County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Essex County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 9 reported crashes in Essex County since 2015 (7.7% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Essex County compared with Virginia?
The yearly rate is 96.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Essex County, vs 51.1 for Virginia.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Essex 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.