ZIP 28692 (Vilas, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28692: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Watauga 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
5 of 257 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Watauga County compares with North Carolina
Watauga County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Watauga County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Watauga County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 43.8 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 29% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 8% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 32% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 11% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.6% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 6.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.8% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.1% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 9.7% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 53% below the state |
Watauga County sits below North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: on snow, slush or ice, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Watauga County: 10.6% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 1.7% in North Carolina.
Overview
Since 2015, 257 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Watauga County. They injured 119 people and killed 7.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 15 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in November (10.1% of the year) and are lowest in September (5.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.1% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 11.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 10.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28692 happened on SR-194 (1), SR-67 (1) and US-421 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 1.9% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28692 fleets
- Review driver schedules for November, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 25.8% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- With 10.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above North Carolina), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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.
Reporting was incomplete in 2022 and 2024, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Watauga County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-194 | 1 |
| SR-67 | 1 |
| US-421 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Watauga County) |
|---|---|
| Blowing Rock Rd | 16 |
| Hwy 105 Ext | 9 |
| E King St | 7 |
| Nc 105 | 3 |
| US-421 | 3 |
| W King St | 3 |
| Chestnut Dr | 2 |
| Reynolds Parkway | 2 |
ZIP 28692 at a glance
| Population | 4,367 |
| Density | 42 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $43,103 |
| Median home value | $325,239 |
| Home ownership | 75% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Watauga 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 | 21 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 23 | +13% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 24 | +4% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 20 | -17% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 21 a year in the 1990s and 20 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 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28692
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28692?
Watauga County has had 257 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 119 people and killing 7.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 28692?
Truck crashes in Watauga County peak in November, with 10.1% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 28692?
Since 2015, Watauga County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.9% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 28692 compare with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 43.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Watauga County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 28692?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2022 and 2024; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.