Steptoe, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Steptoe: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Steptoe and Whitman County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Whitman County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 209 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Whitman County compares with Washington
Whitman County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Whitman County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Whitman County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.2 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 8% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.2% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.8% | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.1% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 40% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.4% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.2% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 36% below the state |
Compared with Washington, Whitman County is lower on garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
Whitman County at a glance: 17.2% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 9.7% across Washington.
Overview
Since 2015, 209 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Whitman County. They injured 38 people and killed 11.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 20 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Steptoe since 2015, this page uses Whitman County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 14.8% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (4.8%).
November through March accounts for 44.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.8% in Washington.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 10.5% of truck crashes.
17.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.7% across Washington.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Steptoe happened on US-195 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
4 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.9% share (Washington: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Steptoe fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Whitman County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 17.2% of truck crashes here, more than Washington; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Whitman County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-195 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Whitman County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-128*001.00 | 3 |
| Sr-195*000.50 | 3 |
| Farmington Rd/Sr-27 | 2 |
| Sr-128*000.50 | 2 |
| Sr-194*003.00 | 2 |
| Sr-195*002.00 | 2 |
| Sr-195*018.00 | 2 |
| Sr-195*036.50 | 2 |
Steptoe at a glance
| Land area | 2.2 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 99174) | $50,179 |
| Median home value (ZIP 99174) | $212,609 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Whitman 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 | 7 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 14 | +93% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 17 | +21% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 16 | -4% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 7 a year in the 1990s and 16 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 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Steptoe
How many truck accidents are there in Steptoe?
Since 2015, 209 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Whitman County (38 injured, 11 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Steptoe?
The worst month is August: 14.8% of truck crashes in Whitman County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Steptoe?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Whitman County since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Steptoe compared with Washington?
Whitman County records 37.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 25.8 across Washington.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Steptoe?
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.