Tappahannock, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Tappahannock: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Tappahannock and Essex County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Essex County numbers.
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 sits below Virginia on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Essex County at a glance: 1 in 13 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 8.0%, vs 2.5% in Virginia.
Overview
Essex County has recorded 117 truck crashes since 2015, with 75 people injured and 4 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 36 days.
Tappahannock had 30 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Essex County numbers.
71% of truck crash reports in Essex County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 12.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 5.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 36.3% of truck crashes, vs 39.8% for 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
Within this area, US-17 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). Next come CR-659 (1), SR-3 (1) and US-360 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 9 crashes, 7.7% of the total, against 2.5% across Virginia.
Route planning tips for Tappahannock fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Essex County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-17; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 33.6% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Virginia; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-17 | 2 |
| CR-659 | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
| US-360 | 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 |
Tappahannock at a glance
| Population | 2,199 |
| Land area | 2.7 sq mi |
| Density | 824 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 22560) | $61,082 |
| Median home value (ZIP 22560) | $244,396 |
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 crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Tappahannock
How many truck accidents are there in Tappahannock?
Essex County has had 117 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 75 people and killing 4.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Tappahannock?
Since 2015, US-17 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Tappahannock: 2.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Tappahannock?
Truck crashes in Essex County peak in August, with 12.8% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Tappahannock?
Since 2015, Essex County has reported 9 garbage-truck crashes, or 7.7% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Tappahannock compare with Virginia?
Essex County records 96.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 51.1 across Virginia.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Tappahannock?
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.