Atkins, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Atkins: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Atkins and Smyth County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Smyth County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 514 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Smyth County compares with Virginia
Smyth County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Smyth County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Smyth County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 149.1 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 2.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 9% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.2% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 92% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.0% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 14.2% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 37% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 37.9% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 2.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.1% | 39.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 31.4% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Smyth County has lower values than Virginia for injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Virginia on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Smyth County: 37.9% of truck crashes happen in rain, sleet or snow, vs 14.8% in Virginia.
Overview
Police reported 514 crashes involving commercial trucks in Smyth County since 2015: 202 people were injured and 20 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 8 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Atkins since 2015, this page uses Smyth County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
82% of truck crash reports in Smyth County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (11.3% of the year) and are lowest in December (5.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.1% of truck crashes, against 39.8% across Virginia.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 8.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 5.0% of truck crashes, compared with 3.0% in Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-81 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (6). Next come US-11 (2) and SR-11 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 0.4% of the total, against 2.5% across Virginia.
Route planning tips for Atkins fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Smyth County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-81; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 5.0% of truck crashes here, more than Virginia; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Smyth County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 6 |
| US-11 | 2 |
| SR-11 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Smyth County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 339 |
| Southbound Interstate 81 | 11 |
| SR-11 | 8 |
| I-81 North | 6 |
| I-81 South | 6 |
| Northbound Interstate 81 | 6 |
| SR-16 | 6 |
| SR-107 | 3 |
Atkins at a glance
| Land area | 6.2 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 24311) | $48,516 |
| Median home value (ZIP 24311) | $94,183 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Smyth 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 | 19 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 28 | +46% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 32 | +14% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 54 | +68% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 19 a year in the 1990s and 54 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Atkins
How many truck accidents are there in Atkins?
Since 2015, 514 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Smyth County (202 injured, 20 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Atkins?
Since 2015, I-81 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Atkins: 6.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Atkins?
Truck crashes in Smyth County peak in May, with 11.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Atkins?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Smyth County since 2015, 0.4% of all truck crashes.
How does Atkins compare with Virginia for truck crashes?
Smyth County records 149.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 51.1 across Virginia.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Atkins?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.