ZIP 81520 (Clifton, CO) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 81520: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Mesa 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
13 of 390 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mesa County compares with Colorado
Mesa County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mesa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mesa County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 19.7 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 40% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.1 | 5.1 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.32 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 13.1% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 11% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.3% | 25.7% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.0% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 9% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.4% | 43.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.9% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Mesa County sits below Colorado on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Colorado on garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark.
ZIP 81520 at a glance: I-70 deadliest road: 4 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 81520 since 2015.
Overview
Mesa County has recorded 390 truck crashes since 2015, with 122 people injured and 18 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 11 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 11.3% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.4% of truck crashes, against 43.5% across Colorado.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 8.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 13.1% of truck crashes, compared with 14.8% in Colorado.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 81520 is I-70, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: CR-30 Rd (1) and SR-70 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 13 crashes, 3.3% of the total, against 2.8% across Colorado.
Route planning tips for ZIP 81520 fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-70; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Morning starts matter: 28.3% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Colorado.
- 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 Mesa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 4 |
| CR-30 Rd | 1 |
| SR-70 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mesa County) |
|---|---|
| I 70 At Mp 44 | 5 |
| I-70 | 4 |
| I70 At Mp 50 | 4 |
| River Rd At Railroad Blvd | 3 |
| Rd At Patterson Rd | 3 |
| Rd At North Ave | 3 |
| Railroad Blvd At River Rd | 3 |
| I70 At Mp 32 | 3 |
ZIP 81520 at a glance
| Population | 12,892 |
| Density | 242 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $50,283 |
| Median home value | $235,325 |
| Home ownership | 67% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mesa 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 | 29 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 42 | +48% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 30 | -29% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 36 | +22% | 1.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 29 to 36. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 81520
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 81520?
390 truck crashes have been reported in Mesa County since 2015, with 18 deaths and 122 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 81520?
Since 2015, I-70 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 81520: 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 81520?
The worst month is August: 11.3% of truck crashes in Mesa County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 81520?
Since 2015, Mesa County has reported 13 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 81520 compare with Colorado?
Per 100,000 residents, Mesa County has 19.7 truck crashes a year; Colorado has 32.6.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 81520?
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.