ZIP 87531 (Embudo, NM) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 87531: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Taos 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
0 of 50 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Taos County compares with New Mexico
Taos County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Taos County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Taos County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 12.4 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 73% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 10.6 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 39% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.9% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 14.9% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 35% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.9% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.3% | 46.8% | 41.9% | 18% below the state |
| After dark | 29.8% | 30.2% | 24.8% | same |
Taos County sits below New Mexico on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above New Mexico on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Taos County at a glance: October the month with the most truck crashes: 22.0% of the year's total.
Overview
Police reported 50 crashes involving commercial trucks in Taos County since 2015: 16 people were injured and 5 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 85 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (22.0% of the year) and are lowest in March (2.0%).
November through March accounts for 38.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.8% in New Mexico.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 14.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 14.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Mexico: 12.1%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 87531 since 2015: SR-68 (2) and US-285 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Since 2015, no garbage-truck crashes were reported for Taos County.
Route planning tips for ZIP 87531 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 14.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above New Mexico; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Taos County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-68 | 2 |
| US-285 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Taos County) |
|---|---|
| US-285 | 9 |
| US-64 | 4 |
| Nm Highway 68 & Nm Highway 570 | 2 |
| Us 285 Mm 265 | 2 |
| E Us Hwy 64, Mp 259 | 1 |
| Este Es Rd & Paseo Del Pueblo Sur | 1 |
| Hondo Seco Road | 1 |
| I-25 | 1 |
ZIP 87531 at a glance
| Population | 144 |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Home ownership | 100% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Taos 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 | 2 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 2 | -10% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 4 | +82% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 3 | -17% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 3. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 87531
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 87531?
50 truck crashes have been reported in Taos County since 2015, with 5 deaths and 16 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 87531?
Truck crashes in Taos County peak in October, with 22.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 87531?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Taos County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 87531 compared with New Mexico?
The yearly rate is 12.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Taos County, vs 45.6 for New Mexico.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 87531?
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.