Roanoke city, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Roanoke city: 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
13 of 316 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Roanoke city compares with Virginia
Roanoke city against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Roanoke city stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Roanoke city | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 28.6 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 44% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.3 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 50% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.2% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.3% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 57% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.6% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.3% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 39.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.9% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 30% below the state |
Compared with Virginia, Roanoke city is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Roanoke city: 1 in 24 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.2%, against 2.5% for Virginia.
Overview
Roanoke city has recorded 316 truck crashes since 2015, with 122 people injured and 4 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 13 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 9.5% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (5.7%).
November through March accounts for 40.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 39.8% in Virginia.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (9.5%).
Road surface: 1.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Virginia: 3.0%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Roanoke city since 2015 were spread across roads: US-460 (3) and Glade View (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
13 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.1% share (Virginia: 2.5%).
Route planning tips for Roanoke city fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.6% of truck crashes here, more than Virginia; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Roanoke city
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Roanoke city) |
|---|---|
| US-460 | 3 |
| Glade View | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Roanoke city) |
|---|---|
| Orange Ave Ne | 36 |
| I-581 | 31 |
| Franklin Rd Sw | 20 |
| Orange Ave Nw | 15 |
| Peters Creek Rd Nw | 8 |
| I-581Sb | 7 |
| I-581 North | 5 |
| Brandon Ave Sw | 4 |
Roanoke city at a glance
| Population | 97,912 |
| Land area | 42.5 sq mi |
| Density | 2,303 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $53,600 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Roanoke city 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 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 18 | +270% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 29 | +57% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 31 | +6% | 0.2 |
In the 1990s about 5 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 31. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Roanoke city
ZIP codes in Roanoke city
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Roanoke city
How common are truck crashes in Roanoke city?
Roanoke city has had 316 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 122 people and killing 4.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Roanoke city?
The worst month is August: 9.5% of truck crashes in Roanoke city happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Roanoke city?
13 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Roanoke city since 2015, 4.1% of all truck crashes.
How does Roanoke city compare with Virginia for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Roanoke city has 28.6 truck crashes a year; Virginia has 51.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Roanoke city?
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.