ZIP 05261 (Pownal, VT) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 05261: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Bennington County, 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
4 of 116 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Bennington County compares with Vermont
Bennington County against Vermont and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Bennington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Bennington County | Vermont | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 27.2 | 28.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.40 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.2% | 23.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.8% | 27.9% | 23.7% | 29% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 27.9% | 26.7% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.4% | 50.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.7% | 17.6% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Bennington County sits below Vermont on morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and after dark.
Bennington County at a glance: March the month with the most truck crashes: 19.0% of the year's total.
Overview
Police reported 116 crashes involving commercial trucks in Bennington County since 2015: 58 people were injured and 4 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 36 days.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 19.0% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.2%).
November through March accounts for 50.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 50.2% in Vermont.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 11.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 25.2% of truck crashes, compared with 23.6% in Vermont.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 05261 happened on SR-2 (1), SR-22 (1), SR-7 (1), SR-8 (1) and Sr- 279 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 4 of the truck crashes here, or 3.4%, compared with 3.3% in Vermont.
Route planning tips for ZIP 05261 fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Bennington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-2 | 1 |
| SR-22 | 1 |
| SR-7 | 1 |
| SR-8 | 1 |
| Sr- 279 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Bennington County) |
|---|---|
| 1489-1573 Vt Route 9 | 2 |
| Route 9, Route 8 | 2 |
| Us Route 7, At Mile Marker 28.8 | 2 |
| Vt Route 9, Somerset Rd | 2 |
| Vt Rt 9, Lind Ln | 2 |
| Vt Rt 9, Vt Rt 8 | 2 |
| 1187-1285 Vt Route 9 | 1 |
| 1200-1476 Vt-9, Vt Rt 8 | 1 |
ZIP 05261 at a glance
| Population | 2,171 |
| Density | 29 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $62,917 |
| Median home value | $253,970 |
| Home ownership | 90% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Bennington 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 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 10 | +39% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 11 | +8% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 9 | -17% | 0.2 |
In the 1990s about 7 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 9. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 05261
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 05261?
Since 2015, 116 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Bennington County (58 injured, 4 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 05261?
March has the most truck crashes in Bennington County, 19.0% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 05261?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Bennington County since 2015, 3.4% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 05261 compare with Vermont?
The yearly rate is 27.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Bennington County, vs 28.2 for Vermont.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 05261?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.