ZIP 24551 (Forest, VA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 24551: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Bedford 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
11 of 330 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Bedford County compares with Virginia
Bedford County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Bedford County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Bedford County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 36.1 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 29% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.4% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.2% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.7% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 21% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.5% | 39.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 18.1% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 25% below the state |
Compared with Virginia, Bedford County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Bedford County at a glance: 4.3 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.6 in Virginia.
Overview
Bedford County has recorded 330 truck crashes since 2015, with 134 people injured and 14 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 12 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 12.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is August at 5.5%.
November through March accounts for 44.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 39.8% in Virginia.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (9.1%).
3.4% 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 24551 since 2015 were spread across roads: US-221 (2), US-460 (2), Campbell Ave (1) and SR-122 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
11 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.3% share (Virginia: 2.5%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 24551 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 28.2% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Virginia; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 3.4% of truck crashes here, more than Virginia; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Bedford County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-221 | 2 |
| US-460 | 2 |
| Campbell Ave | 1 |
| SR-122 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Bedford County) |
|---|---|
| SR-460 | 66 |
| SR-122 | 23 |
| SR-221 | 13 |
| SR-24 | 11 |
| Route 460 East | 8 |
| SR-501 | 8 |
| Route 460 West | 6 |
| Rt. 460 | 6 |
ZIP 24551 at a glance
| Population | 28,554 |
| Density | 149 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $91,067 |
| Median home value | $360,810 |
| Home ownership | 82% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Bedford 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 | 24 | — | 1.5 |
| 2000s | 28 | +16% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 28 | +2% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 29 | +2% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 24 a year in the 1990s and 29 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 1.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 24551
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 24551?
Bedford County has had 330 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 134 people and killing 14.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 24551?
The worst month is January: 12.4% of truck crashes in Bedford County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 24551?
Garbage trucks were involved in 11 reported crashes in Bedford County since 2015 (3.3% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 24551 compare with Virginia?
Per 100,000 residents, Bedford County has 36.1 truck crashes a year; Virginia has 51.1.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 24551?
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.