ZIP 27518 (Cary, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 27518: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Wake 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
2.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Wake County compares with North Carolina
Wake County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wake County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 45.2 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 26% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.0 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 60% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.62 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 21% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.9% | 10.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.8% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 14.9% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 27% below the state |
Wake County sits below North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above North Carolina on morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Wake County: +83% yearly reported truck crashes went from 302 in the 2000s to 552 in the 2010s.
Overview
Police reported 6,415 crashes involving commercial trucks in Wake County since 2015: 3,996 people were injured and 66 were killed.
That averages about 2 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 9.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 7.3%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.8% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.0%).
Road surface: 1.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 27518 since 2015 were spread across roads: I-40 (6), US-401 (6), I-440 (3), SR-55 (2) and Ns-96051 Cornerstone Dr (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 168 of the truck crashes here, or 2.6%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in April (12% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.5 deaths compared with 1.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 27518 fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in April; review collection routes for that month.
- 26.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; 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 Wake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 6 |
| US-401 | 6 |
| I-440 | 3 |
| SR-55 | 2 |
| Ns-96051 Cornerstone Dr | 1 |
| Ssr-1006 Old Stage Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1101 Piney Grove Wilbon Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1379 Penny Rd | 1 |
| US-1 | 1 |
| Wade Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wake County) |
|---|---|
| Capital Blvd | 254 |
| Glenwood Ave | 137 |
| New Bern Ave | 62 |
| Wake Forest Rd | 50 |
| E Williams St | 47 |
| Wade Ave | 39 |
| Knightdale Blvd | 37 |
| S Wilmington St | 37 |
ZIP 27518 at a glance
| Population | 19,735 |
| Density | 770 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $123,488 |
| Median home value | $632,124 |
| Home ownership | 66% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wake 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 | 164 | — | 6.3 |
| 2000s | 302 | +84% | 5.6 |
| 2010s | 552 | +83% | 5.0 |
| 2020s | 486 | -12% | 6.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 164 a year in the 1990s and 486 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.0 a year in 2016–19, 6.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 27518
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 27518?
Since 2015, 6,415 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Wake County (3,996 injured, 66 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 27518?
The worst month is June: 9.7% of truck crashes in Wake County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 27518?
Garbage trucks were involved in 168 reported crashes in Wake County since 2015 (2.6% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 27518 compare with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Wake County has 45.2 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 27518?
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.