Bristol, CT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bristol: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bristol and Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Naugatuck Valley Planning Region numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Naugatuck Valley Planning Region compares with Connecticut
Naugatuck 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 Naugatuck Valley Planning Region stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Connecticut | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 35.5 | 40.2 | 49.7 | 12% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 9% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.39 | 0.49 | 10% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 23% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.5% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 11% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 24.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.9% | 14.1% | 13.8% | 8% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.6% | 41.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.2% | 28.0% | 24.8% | 14% below the state |
Compared with Connecticut, Naugatuck Valley Planning Region is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Bristol: I-84 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Bristol: 5 since 2015.
Overview
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region has recorded 1,924 truck crashes since 2015, with 679 people injured and 37 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
Bristol had 123 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Naugatuck Valley Planning Region numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 10.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 7.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.6% of truck crashes, vs 41.3% for Connecticut.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (8.0%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 5.5% of truck crashes, compared with 6.2% in Connecticut.
Where crashes happen
I-84 leads within 10 miles of Bristol with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-691 (2), Echo Lake Road (1) and SR-4 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 46 of the truck crashes here, or 2.4%, compared with 3.3% in Connecticut.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in March (15% of them).
They recorded 4.3 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Bristol fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-84, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in March; review collection routes for that month.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.9% of truck crashes here, more than Connecticut; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Naugatuck Valley Planning Region
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-84 | 5 |
| I-691 | 2 |
| Echo Lake Road | 1 |
| SR-4 | 1 |
| SR-72 | 1 |
| SR-73 | 1 |
| South St | 1 |
| Ts-Lakewood Rd | 1 |
| Waterbury Road | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Naugatuck Valley Planning Region) |
|---|---|
| I-84 | 83 |
| Bank St | 29 |
| SR-8 | 25 |
| Main St | 16 |
| Highland Ave | 10 |
| North Main St | 9 |
| I 84 East | 7 |
| Exit 25 I 84 | 7 |
Bristol at a glance
| Population | 62,195 |
| Land area | 26.4 sq mi |
| Density | 2,356 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 06010) | $79,314 |
| Median home value (ZIP 06010) | $277,851 |
Historical data: truck crashes in Naugatuck 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 | 78 | — | 0.0 |
| 2000s | 98 | +27% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 116 | +18% | 2.4 |
| 2020s | 172 | +48% | 1.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 78 to 172. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bristol
How common are truck crashes in Bristol?
Since 2015, 1,924 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region (679 injured, 37 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Bristol?
I-84 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Bristol since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Bristol?
The worst month is October: 10.5% of truck crashes in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Bristol?
46 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region since 2015, 2.4% of all truck crashes.
How does Bristol compare with Connecticut for truck crashes?
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region records 35.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 40.2 across Connecticut.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Bristol?
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.