ZIP 22972 (Somerset, VA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 22972: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Orange 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
7 of 199 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Orange County compares with Virginia
Orange County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Orange County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Orange County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 43.1 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 16% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.39 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.2% | 3.0% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.4% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.6% | 14.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 36.8% | 39.8% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 14.6% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 40% below the state |
Compared with Virginia, Orange County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and winter months (nov–mar). It runs above Virginia on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Orange County at a glance: 4.3 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Virginia: 2.6).
Overview
Since 2015, 199 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Orange County. They injured 80 people and killed 8.
That averages about one truck crash every 22 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (13.1% of the year) and are lowest in December (5.0%).
November through March accounts for 36.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 39.8% in Virginia.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (12.1%).
3.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.0% across Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 22972 since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-607 (1), SR-22 (1), SR-231 (1) and US-29 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 3.5% of the total, against 2.5% across Virginia.
Route planning tips for ZIP 22972 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Orange County.
- 25.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Virginia; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Orange County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-607 | 1 |
| SR-22 | 1 |
| SR-231 | 1 |
| US-29 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Orange County) |
|---|---|
| SR-20 | 19 |
| SR-3 | 16 |
| SR-522 | 13 |
| SR-15 | 10 |
| SR-33 | 6 |
| SR-231 | 5 |
| Zachary Taylor Highway | 5 |
| Zachary Taylor Hwy | 5 |
ZIP 22972 at a glance
| Population | 290 |
| Density | 7 per sq mi |
| Median home value | $870,869 |
| Home ownership | 100% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Orange 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 | 9 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 11 | +24% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 9 | -13% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 22 | +134% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 9 a year in the 1990s and 22 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 22972
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 22972?
Orange County has had 199 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 80 people and killing 8.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 22972?
The worst month is October: 13.1% of truck crashes in Orange County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 22972?
Garbage trucks were involved in 7 reported crashes in Orange County since 2015 (3.5% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 22972 compare with Virginia?
The yearly rate is 43.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Orange County, vs 51.1 for Virginia.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 22972?
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.