ZIP 80481 (Ward, CO) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 80481: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Boulder 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
4.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 4.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Boulder County compares with Colorado
Boulder County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Boulder County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Boulder County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 14.6 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 55% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.36 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.2% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 31% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.0% | 25.7% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.0% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.9% | 43.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 10.0% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 55% below the state |
Compared with Colorado, Boulder County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Boulder County at a glance: 1 in 24 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.1%, vs 2.8% in Colorado.
Overview
Since 2015, 563 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Boulder County. They injured 212 people and killed 24.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
June has the most truck crashes, 10.8% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.9% of truck crashes, against 43.5% across Colorado.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (11.0%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.2% of truck crashes, compared with 14.8% in Colorado.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 80481 since 2015: SR-72 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 24 crashes, 4.3% of the total, against 2.8% across Colorado.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (17% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 4.5, vs 4.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 80481 fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Boulder County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 29.0% of truck crashes here, more than Colorado; adjust start times where you can.
- 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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Boulder County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-72 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Boulder County) |
|---|---|
| Hwy 287 At Mp 306 | 4 |
| Hwy 66 At Mp 37 | 4 |
| Ken Pratt Blvd At Bowen St | 3 |
| Hwy 66 At Mp 38 | 3 |
| Hwy 52 At Mp 6 | 3 |
| Hwy 36 At Mp 44 | 3 |
| Hwy 36 At Mp 42 | 3 |
| Hwy 36 At Mp 40 | 3 |
ZIP 80481 at a glance
| Population | 484 |
| Density | 4 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $116,563 |
| Median home value | $639,482 |
| Home ownership | 98% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Boulder 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 | 34 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 46 | +36% | 1.9 |
| 2010s | 50 | +8% | 2.6 |
| 2020s | 44 | -13% | 1.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 34 to 44. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 4.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 80481
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 80481?
Since 2015, 563 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Boulder County (212 injured, 24 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 80481?
Truck crashes in Boulder County peak in June, with 10.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 80481?
Since 2015, Boulder County has reported 24 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.3% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 80481 compare with Colorado for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 14.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Boulder County, vs 32.6 for Colorado.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 80481?
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.