Roanoke County, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Roanoke 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
8 of 942 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Roanoke County compares with Virginia
Roanoke County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Roanoke County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Roanoke County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 82.5 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.36 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 18% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 64% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.5% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 17.9% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 21% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.5% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 36.5% | 39.8% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 28.1% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Virginia, Roanoke County is lower on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Roanoke County: 1 in 110 crashes involve a garbage truck (8 since 2015), vs 2.5% across Virginia.
Overview
Police reported 942 crashes involving commercial trucks in Roanoke County since 2015: 336 people were injured and 27 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 5 days.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.3% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 36.5% of truck crashes, against 39.8% across Virginia.
The busiest hour is 5–6 pm, with 7.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.5% of truck crashes, compared with 3.0% in Virginia.
Where crashes happen
I-81 leads in Roanoke County with 10 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: Mu-149 Washington Ave (1), SR-116 (1) and SR-311 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 8 crashes, 0.8% of the total, against 2.5% across Virginia.
Route planning tips for Roanoke County fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-81 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 3.5% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Virginia), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Roanoke County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 10 |
| Mu-149 Washington Ave | 1 |
| SR-116 | 1 |
| SR-311 | 1 |
| US-11 | 1 |
| US-220 | 1 |
| US-221 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Roanoke County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 310 |
| Franklin Rd | 77 |
| I-81 North | 52 |
| I-81 South | 35 |
| Challenger Ave | 30 |
| West Main St | 27 |
| I-81Sb | 19 |
| Plantation Rd | 17 |
Roanoke County at a glance
| Population | 97,334 |
| Land area | 250.5 sq mi |
| Density | 388 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $79,729 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Roanoke 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 | 29 | — | 1.5 |
| 2000s | 48 | +67% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 54 | +13% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 104 | +93% | 2.4 |
In the 1990s about 29 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 104. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Roanoke County
ZIP codes in Roanoke County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Roanoke County
How many truck accidents are there in Roanoke County?
942 truck crashes have been reported in Roanoke County since 2015, with 27 deaths and 336 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Roanoke County?
I-81 had 10 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Roanoke County since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Roanoke County?
October has the most truck crashes in Roanoke County, 10.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Roanoke County?
8 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Roanoke County since 2015, 0.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Roanoke County compare with Virginia?
Roanoke County records 82.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 51.1 across Virginia.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Roanoke 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.