ZIP 31318 (Meldrim, GA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 31318: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Effingham 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
17 of 477 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Effingham County compares with Georgia
Effingham County against Georgia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Effingham County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Effingham County | Georgia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 53.8 | 62.4 | 49.7 | 14% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.3 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 0.5% | 6.2% | 51% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.6% | 22.6% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.9% | 11.4% | 13.8% | 13% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.0% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.8% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Compared with Georgia, Effingham County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for ZIP 31318: 2.9× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of ZIP 31318 (1.5 → 4.4).
Overview
Since 2015, 477 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Effingham County. They injured 249 people and killed 24.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 9 days.
When crashes happen
April has the most truck crashes, 10.5% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (5.2%).
November through March accounts for 43.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.9% in Georgia.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (8.4%).
Road surface: 0.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Georgia: 0.5%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-16 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (15). Next come I-95 (5), SR-26 (5) and SR-17 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
17 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.6% share (Georgia: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 31318 fleets
- Review driver schedules for April, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-16, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Effingham County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-16 | 15 |
| I-95 | 5 |
| SR-26 | 5 |
| SR-17 | 3 |
| SR-30 | 2 |
| US-80 | 2 |
| SR-0404 | 1 |
| SR-204 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Effingham County) |
|---|---|
| SR-21 | 4 |
| Sr 26 Near Sr 17 | 4 |
| Sr 21 At Sr 119 | 3 |
| Midland | 3 |
| Interstate 16 Near Old River Road | 3 |
| I-16 W Mm 147.5 | 3 |
| I-16 / Old River Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 80 / Old River Rd | 3 |
ZIP 31318 at a glance
| Population | 451 |
| Density | 67 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $78,036 |
| Home ownership | 92% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Effingham 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 | 20 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 27 | +33% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 26 | -3% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 44 | +65% | 2.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 20 to 44. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 31318
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 31318?
Effingham County has had 477 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 249 people and killing 24.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 31318?
Since 2015, I-16 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 31318: 15.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 31318?
The worst month is April: 10.5% of truck crashes in Effingham County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 31318?
Since 2015, Effingham County has reported 17 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.6% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 31318 compare with Georgia for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 53.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Effingham County, vs 62.4 for Georgia.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 31318?
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.