ZIP 22042 (Falls Church, VA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 22042: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Fairfax 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
1.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Fairfax County compares with Virginia
Fairfax County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Fairfax County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Fairfax County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 34.6 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 32% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.2 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 54% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.3% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 37% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.7% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.4% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 30% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.7% | 39.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.0% | 24.3% | 24.8% | same |
Fairfax County sits below Virginia on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Fairfax County at a glance: May more garbage-truck crashes happen in May than in any other month (16%).
Overview
Since 2015, 4,649 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Fairfax County. They injured 2,015 people and killed 54.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (9.9% of the year) and are lowest in December (6.9%).
November through March accounts for 37.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 39.8% in Virginia.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.5% of truck crashes.
1.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.0% across Virginia.
Where crashes happen
I-495 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 22042 with 14 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-66 (3), CR-617 (2) and I-95 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 151 crashes, 3.2% of the total, against 2.5% across Virginia.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (16%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.4, vs 1.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 22042 fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Fairfax County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-495; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Fairfax County.
- Morning starts matter: 24.7% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Virginia.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Fairfax County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-495 | 14 |
| I-66 | 3 |
| CR-617 | 2 |
| I-95 | 2 |
| SR-123 | 2 |
| SR-190 | 2 |
| SR-237 | 2 |
| SR-286 | 2 |
| US-29 | 2 |
| 21st St Nw | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Fairfax County) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 358 |
| I-495 | 190 |
| I-66 West | 190 |
| I-495 South | 186 |
| I-66 East | 182 |
| I-495 North | 181 |
| I-66 | 114 |
| I-95 South | 80 |
ZIP 22042 at a glance
| Population | 35,483 |
| Density | 2,134 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $138,255 |
| Median home value | $725,140 |
| Home ownership | 67% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Fairfax 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 | 163 | — | 4.8 |
| 2000s | 326 | +99% | 5.8 |
| 2010s | 422 | +30% | 3.9 |
| 2020s | 407 | -4% | 5.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 163 a year in the 1990s and 407 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 4.0 a year in 2016–19 and 5.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 22042
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 22042?
Since 2015, 4,649 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Fairfax County (2,015 injured, 54 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 22042?
NHTSA data shows I-495 with 14 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 22042 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 22042?
June has the most truck crashes in Fairfax County, 9.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 22042?
Garbage trucks were involved in 151 reported crashes in Fairfax County since 2015 (3.2% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 22042 compare with Virginia for truck crashes?
Fairfax County records 34.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 51.1 across Virginia.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 22042?
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.