ZIP 27981 (Wanchese, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 27981: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Dare 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 192 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Dare County compares with North Carolina
Dare County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2023 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Dare County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2023) | Dare County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 51.4 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 16% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.69 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.5% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.6% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 63% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.0% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 12% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 3.8% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 64% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 30.6% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 26% below the state |
| After dark | 10.2% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 50% below the state |
Dare County sits below North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: garbage-truck share.
The headline for Dare County: July 16.1% of truck crashes happen in July, more than any other month.
Overview
Police reported 192 crashes involving commercial trucks in Dare County since 2015: 135 people were injured and 5 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 19 days.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 16.1% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (4.2%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 30.6% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 12.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.6% 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 27981 since 2015 were spread across roads: US-64 (2), SR-12 (1) and US-158 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 11 crashes, 5.7% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for ZIP 27981 fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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.
Crash reporting for 2020, 2024 and 2025 is incomplete; those years are shown in grey and not used for rates.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Dare County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-64 | 2 |
| SR-12 | 1 |
| US-158 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Dare County) |
|---|---|
| Us 158 (N Croatan Hwy) | 7 |
| Croatan Hwy | 4 |
| Croatan Highway | 3 |
| Us 158 N Croatan Hwy | 3 |
| Duck Rd | 2 |
| Us 158 (S Croatan Hwy) | 2 |
| 11Th Ave | 1 |
| Airstrip Rd | 1 |
ZIP 27981 at a glance
| Population | 1,969 |
| Density | 83 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $88,750 |
| Median home value | $292,394 |
| Home ownership | 69% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Dare 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 | 6 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 13 | +98% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 18 | +40% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 17 | -8% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 17 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 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 27981
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 27981?
Since 2015, 192 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Dare County (135 injured, 5 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 27981?
July has the most truck crashes in Dare County, 16.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 27981?
Garbage trucks were involved in 11 reported crashes in Dare County since 2015 (5.7% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 27981 compared with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 51.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Dare County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 27981?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2020, 2024 and 2025; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.