ZIP 78159 (Smiley, TX) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 78159: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Gonzales 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 of 686 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Gonzales County compares with Texas
Gonzales County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Gonzales County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Gonzales County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 300.3 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 4.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.9 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 2.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.3% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 73% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.1% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 36% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.7% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 17% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.1% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.1% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 30.7% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Gonzales County has lower values than Texas for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Texas on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Gonzales County: 8.9 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 4.1 across Texas.
Overview
Gonzales County has recorded 686 truck crashes since 2015, with 434 people injured and 61 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 6 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (10.3% of the year) and are lowest in April (5.8%).
November through March accounts for 41.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Texas.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 8.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.1% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in Texas.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 78159 happened on US-87 (3); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.3% share (Texas: 1.1%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 78159 fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Gonzales County.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Gonzales County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-87 | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Gonzales County) |
|---|---|
| I-10 | 12 |
| US-183 | 10 |
| Water St | 10 |
| Sarah Dewitt Dr | 7 |
| US-87 | 5 |
| W Ih 10 Westbound Lane Hwy | 4 |
| Interstate Highway 10 | 3 |
| Sh 97 | 3 |
ZIP 78159 at a glance
| Population | 623 |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $35,083 |
| Median home value | $104,419 |
| Home ownership | 69% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Gonzales 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 | 19 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 28 | +52% | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 62 | +119% | 3.4 |
| 2020s | 54 | -13% | 2.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 19 a year in the 1990s and 54 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.5 a year in 2016–19, 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 78159
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 78159?
Gonzales County has had 686 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 434 people and killing 61.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 78159?
The worst month is July: 10.3% of truck crashes in Gonzales County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 78159?
Since 2015, Gonzales County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.3% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 78159 compare with Texas for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Gonzales County has 300.3 truck crashes a year; Texas has 62.9.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 78159?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.