Richmond, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Richmond: 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
2.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Richmond compares with Virginia
Richmond against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Richmond stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Richmond | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 56.6 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 62% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.4% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 54% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.7% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.0% | 14.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.3% | 39.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.0% | 24.3% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Virginia, Richmond is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Richmond: I-95 14 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 15 miles of Richmond.
Overview
Police reported 1,521 crashes involving commercial trucks in Richmond since 2015: 630 people were injured and 16 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 9.5% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (6.0%).
November through March accounts for 41.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 39.8% in Virginia.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.4% of truck crashes, compared with 3.0% in Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-95 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (14). It is followed by I-295 (12), I-64 (10) and SR-288 (5).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 44 crashes, 2.9% of the total, against 2.5% across Virginia.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (18%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.4, vs 1.0 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Richmond fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-95; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at May schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.7% 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
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 Richmond
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 14 |
| I-295 | 12 |
| I-64 | 10 |
| SR-288 | 5 |
| US-1 | 4 |
| CR-643 | 2 |
| US-301 | 2 |
| 5th St | 1 |
| CR-1250 | 1 |
| CR-1460 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Richmond) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 248 |
| Northbound I-95 | 47 |
| Southbound Interstate 95 | 40 |
| I-95 South | 37 |
| Southbound I-95 | 36 |
| I-95 North | 35 |
| Northbound Interstate 95 | 34 |
| Sb I-95 | 30 |
Richmond at a glance
| Population | 233,655 |
| Land area | 59.9 sq mi |
| Density | 3,899 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Richmond 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 | 63 | — | 1.5 |
| 2000s | 75 | +19% | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 115 | +53% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 148 | +29% | 1.6 |
In the 1990s about 63 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 148. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Richmond
How many truck accidents are there in Richmond?
Since 2015, 1,521 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Richmond (630 injured, 16 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Richmond?
NHTSA data shows I-95 with 14 fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Richmond since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Richmond?
Truck crashes in Richmond peak in March, with 9.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Richmond?
Garbage trucks were involved in 44 reported crashes in Richmond since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Richmond compare with Virginia?
The yearly rate is 56.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Richmond, vs 51.1 for Virginia.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Richmond?
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.