ZIP 81201 (Salida, CO) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 81201: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Chaffee 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 135 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Chaffee County compares with Colorado
Chaffee County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Chaffee County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Chaffee County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 55.1 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 11.1 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 2.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.23 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 28% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 26.2% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.4% | 25.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.6% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.5% | 43.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.0% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Chaffee County sits below Colorado on injuries per crash. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Chaffee County: 11.1 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 5.1 in Colorado.
Overview
Police reported 135 crashes involving commercial trucks in Chaffee County since 2015: 33 people were injured and 14 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 32 days.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 11.9% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (4.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.5% of truck crashes, against 43.5% across Colorado.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 9.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 26.2% 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 81201 since 2015: US-285 (2), SR-291 (1) and US-50 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 5 of the truck crashes here, or 3.7%, compared with 2.8% in Colorado.
Route planning tips for ZIP 81201 fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 26.2% of truck crashes here, more than Colorado; schedule winter 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 Chaffee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-285 | 2 |
| SR-291 | 1 |
| US-50 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Chaffee County) |
|---|---|
| Hwy 50 At Mp 209 | 6 |
| Hwy 50 At Mp 199 | 5 |
| Hwy 50 At Mp 202 | 3 |
| Hwy 285 At Mp 137 | 3 |
| Cr 187 At Cr 307 | 2 |
| Hwy 24 2,112 Feet E Of Mp 217 | 2 |
| Hwy 24 At Mp 221 | 2 |
| Hwy 285 At Mp 119 | 2 |
ZIP 81201 at a glance
| Population | 9,294 |
| Density | 9 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $80,248 |
| Median home value | $675,768 |
| Home ownership | 70% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Chaffee 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 | 6 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 8 | +36% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 10 | +35% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 12 | +12% | 0.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 12. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 81201
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 81201?
135 truck crashes have been reported in Chaffee County since 2015, with 14 deaths and 33 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 81201?
Truck crashes in Chaffee County peak in July, with 11.9% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 81201?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Chaffee County since 2015, 3.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 81201 compare with Colorado?
Chaffee County records 55.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 32.6 across Colorado.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 81201?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.