ZIP 79720 (Big Spring, TX) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 79720: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Howard 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
1 of 913 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Howard County compares with Texas
Howard County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Howard County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Howard County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 255.3 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 4.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.4 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.69 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.1% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 89% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.2% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 2.0× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.5% | 22.6% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.8% | 11.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.7% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 30.2% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Howard County has lower values than Texas for garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Howard County: 3.2% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 1.7% in Texas.
Overview
Since 2015, 913 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Howard County. They injured 617 people and killed 56.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 5 days.
When crashes happen
May has the most truck crashes, 10.1% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.0%).
November through March accounts for 39.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Texas.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.2% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in Texas.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-20 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (14). Next come US-87 (6), SR-176 (2) and SR-350 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.1% share (Texas: 1.1%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 79720 fleets
- Review driver schedules for May, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-20 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 3.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Texas), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Howard County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 14 |
| US-87 | 6 |
| SR-176 | 2 |
| SR-350 | 2 |
| Fm 700 Marcy Dr | 1 |
| Rm 33 | 1 |
| Rm-33 | 1 |
| Rm33 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Howard County) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 48 |
| US-87 | 18 |
| Sh 350 | 6 |
| Sh 176 | 5 |
| Fm 669 | 4 |
| N 1400 Lamesa Hwy | 4 |
| N 1000 Benton St | 3 |
| S 1700 Gregg St | 3 |
ZIP 79720 at a glance
| Population | 29,936 |
| Density | 12 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $68,785 |
| Median home value | $141,348 |
| Home ownership | 69% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Howard 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 | 23 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 36 | +54% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 73 | +104% | 3.0 |
| 2020s | 72 | -1% | 4.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 23 to 72. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.5 a year in 2016–19, 4.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 79720
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 79720?
913 truck crashes have been reported in Howard County since 2015, with 56 deaths and 617 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 79720?
I-20 had 14 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 79720 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 79720?
May has the most truck crashes in Howard County, 10.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 79720?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Howard County since 2015, 0.1% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 79720 compared with Texas?
The yearly rate is 255.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Howard County, vs 62.9 for Texas.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 79720?
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.