Saluda, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Saluda: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Saluda and Middlesex County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Middlesex County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 62 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Middlesex County compares with Virginia
Middlesex County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Middlesex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Middlesex County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.8 | 51.1 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.7 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 2.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 9% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 10.0% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 3.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 100% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.0% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.7% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 21% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.3% | 39.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 11.7% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 52% below the state |
Middlesex County has lower values than Virginia for injuries per crash, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Virginia on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Middlesex County: 1 in 10 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 10.0%, vs 2.5% in Virginia.
Overview
Since 2015, 62 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Middlesex County. They injured 24 people and killed 5.
That averages about one truck crash every 67 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Saluda since 2015, this page uses Middlesex County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
87% of truck crash reports in Middlesex County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (16.1% of the year) and are lowest in January (1.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.3% of truck crashes, against 39.8% across Virginia.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 11.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.0% of truck crashes, compared with 3.0% in Virginia.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Saluda is US-17, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-14 (1), SR-222 (1) and SR-3 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 6 crashes, 9.7% of the total, against 2.5% across Virginia.
Route planning tips for Saluda fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-17, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.0% of truck crashes here, more than Virginia; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Middlesex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-17 | 2 |
| SR-14 | 1 |
| SR-222 | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Middlesex County) |
|---|---|
| SR-17 | 8 |
| SR-33 | 5 |
| Rt. 33 | 4 |
| Route 17 / Tidewater Trail | 3 |
| Rt.17/Tidewater Trail | 3 |
| Rt. 17 / George Washington Mem. Hwy. | 2 |
| SR-3 | 2 |
| Route 17 Business, General Puller Highway | 1 |
Saluda at a glance
| Land area | 3.3 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 23149) | $70,743 |
| Median home value (ZIP 23149) | $282,320 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Middlesex 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 | 3 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 4 | +34% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 4 | +2% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 6 | +33% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 a year in the 1990s and 6 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Saluda
How many truck accidents are there in Saluda?
Since 2015, 62 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Middlesex County (24 injured, 5 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Saluda?
NHTSA data shows US-17 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Saluda since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Saluda?
September has the most truck crashes in Middlesex County, 16.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Saluda?
Since 2015, Middlesex County has reported 6 garbage-truck crashes, or 9.7% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Saluda compare with Virginia?
Middlesex County records 49.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 51.1 across Virginia.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Saluda?
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.