ZIP 27516 (Chapel Hill, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 27516: 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 sits below North Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in Orange County: 4.7% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 1.7% in 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.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out 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
Within this area, I-40 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). Next come SR-1177 (1), SR-54 (1) and SR-86 (1).
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 27516 fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Orange County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-40; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 4.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Carolina; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Orange County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 2 |
| SR-1177 | 1 |
| SR-54 | 1 |
| SR-86 | 1 |
| SR-87 | 1 |
| Ssr-1007 Mebane Oaks Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1109 | 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 27516 at a glance
| Population | 47,358 |
| Density | 196 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $106,353 |
| Median home value | $564,330 |
| Home ownership | 71% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 44 to 97. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. 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 27516
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 27516?
Since 2015, 1,142 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Orange County (655 injured, 22 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 27516?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 27516: 2.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 27516?
The worst month is February: 10.3% of truck crashes in Orange County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 27516?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in Orange County since 2015 (1.3% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 27516 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 27516?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.