Chester, CT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chester: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Chester and Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 5.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region compares with Connecticut
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region against Connecticut and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | Connecticut | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.4 | 40.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.3 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 2.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.52 | 0.39 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 13% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.2% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.5% | 24.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.2% | 14.1% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.5% | 41.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.6% | 28.0% | 24.8% | 9% below the state |
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region sits below Connecticut on garbage-truck share and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region: 5.3 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.2 in Connecticut.
Overview
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region has recorded 782 truck crashes since 2015, with 406 people injured and 39 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 5 days.
With 7 truck crashes reported in Chester since 2015, this page uses Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 9.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.0%.
November through March accounts for 43.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.3% in Connecticut.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (7.9%).
Road surface: 7.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Connecticut: 6.2%).
Where crashes happen
SR-9 leads within 10 miles of Chester with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-95 (2), SR-145 (1) and SR-156 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 23 crashes, 2.9% of the total, against 3.3% across Connecticut.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in November (17% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 5.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Chester fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to SR-9 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at November schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- With 7.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Connecticut), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-9 | 3 |
| I-95 | 2 |
| SR-145 | 1 |
| SR-156 | 1 |
| SR-82 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region) |
|---|---|
| I-91 | 43 |
| I-95 | 33 |
| SR-9 | 13 |
| St Highway 9 | 10 |
| Exit 21 I 91 | 8 |
| Elm St | 5 |
| Exit 70 I 95 | 5 |
| SR-66 | 5 |
Chester at a glance
| Population | 3,748 |
| Land area | 16.1 sq mi |
| Density | 234 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 06412) | $109,191 |
| Median home value (ZIP 06412) | $448,218 |
Historical data: truck crashes in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region 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 | 43 | — | 0.0 |
| 2000s | 43 | -2% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 53 | +25% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 62 | +16% | 3.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 43 a year in the 1990s and 62 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 3.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Chester
How many truck crashes happen in Chester?
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region has had 782 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 406 people and killing 39.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Chester?
SR-9 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Chester since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Chester?
Truck crashes in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region peak in February, with 9.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Chester?
23 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region since 2015, 2.9% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Chester compare with Connecticut?
The yearly rate is 37.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, vs 40.2 for Connecticut.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Chester?
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.