ZIP 27514 (Chapel Hill, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 27514: 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
15 of 1,142 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Orange County compares with North Carolina
Orange County against North Carolina 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 | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 63.0 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 16% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 52% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.7% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 2.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.6% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.6% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 24.7% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Orange County has lower values than North Carolina for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above North Carolina on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in Orange County: 4.7% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,142 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Orange County. They injured 655 people and killed 22.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 10.3% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.6% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.7% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 27514 is I-85, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-40 (2), SR-147 (2) and US-501 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 15 crashes, 1.3% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for ZIP 27514 fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Orange County.
- Check whether your routes use I-85, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 4.7% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
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) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 4 |
| I-40 | 2 |
| SR-147 | 2 |
| US-501 | 2 |
| US-70 | 2 |
| None | 1 |
| Renaissance Pkwy | 1 |
| SR-1177 | 1 |
| SR-157 | 1 |
| SR-55 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Orange County) |
|---|---|
| E Franklin St | 9 |
| Mt Carmel Church Rd | 4 |
| S Columbia St | 4 |
| Cornelius St | 3 |
| Pittsboro St | 3 |
| S Churton St | 3 |
| S Estes Dr | 3 |
| Smith Level Rd | 3 |
ZIP 27514 at a glance
| Population | 32,951 |
| Density | 649 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $92,875 |
| Median home value | $660,679 |
| Home ownership | 49% |
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 | 44 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 58 | +30% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 81 | +42% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 97 | +20% | 2.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 44 a year in the 1990s and 97 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 27514
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 27514?
1,142 truck crashes have been reported in Orange County since 2015, with 22 deaths and 655 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 27514?
NHTSA data shows I-85 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 27514 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 27514?
February has the most truck crashes in Orange County, 10.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 27514?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in Orange County since 2015 (1.3% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 27514 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 63.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Orange County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 27514?
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.