Watertown, CT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Watertown: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Watertown 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 |
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region sits below Connecticut on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher morning rush (6–10 am).
Watertown at a glance: I-84 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Watertown: 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.
With 48 truck crashes reported in Watertown since 2015, this page uses Naugatuck Valley Planning Region numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 10.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 7.1%.
November through March accounts for 41.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.3% in Connecticut.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (8.0%).
Road surface: 5.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Connecticut: 6.2%).
Where crashes happen
I-84 leads within 10 miles of Watertown with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-67 (2), US-6 (2) and East Main St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
46 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.4% share (Connecticut: 3.3%).
Their busiest month is March, with 15% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 4.3 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Watertown fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-84 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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.
- 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 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 |
| SR-67 | 2 |
| US-6 | 2 |
| East Main St | 1 |
| Echo Lake Road | 1 |
| SR-188 | 1 |
| SR-69 | 1 |
| SR-73 | 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 |
Watertown at a glance
| Population | 22,497 |
| Land area | 2.4 sq mi |
| Density | 9,525 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 06795) | $104,850 |
| Median home value (ZIP 06795) | $364,249 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 78 a year in the 1990s and 172 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Watertown
How common are truck crashes in Watertown?
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region has had 1,924 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 679 people and killing 37.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Watertown?
Since 2015, I-84 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Watertown: 5.
When do most truck crashes happen in Watertown?
The worst month is October: 10.5% of truck crashes in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Watertown?
Garbage trucks were involved in 46 reported crashes in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region since 2015 (2.4% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Watertown compared with Connecticut?
The yearly rate is 35.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, vs 40.2 for Connecticut.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Watertown?
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.