Colchester, CT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Colchester: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Colchester and Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region compares with Connecticut
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region against Connecticut and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Connecticut | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 30.0 | 40.2 | 49.7 | 25% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.7 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.39 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.8% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.6% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.9% | 24.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.3% | 14.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.2% | 41.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.4% | 28.0% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region sits below Connecticut on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Colchester at a glance: SR-66 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Colchester: 3 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,002 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region. They injured 419 people and killed 26.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
Colchester had 49 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 10.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 5.9%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.2% of truck crashes, vs 41.3% for Connecticut.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 8.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 8.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Connecticut: 6.2%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-66 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). It is followed by SR-16 (2), SR-2 (1) and SR-32 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
47 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.7% share (Connecticut: 3.3%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (15% of them).
They recorded 4.4 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Colchester fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region.
- Look at alternatives to SR-66 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 8.6% of truck crashes here, more than Connecticut; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-66 | 3 |
| SR-16 | 2 |
| SR-2 | 1 |
| SR-32 | 1 |
| Ts-Champion Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 64 |
| I-395 | 42 |
| SR-2 | 15 |
| SR-32 | 13 |
| Rte 85 | 5 |
| Liberty St | 5 |
| Fitchville Rd | 4 |
| Mitchell St | 4 |
Colchester at a glance
| Population | 15,752 |
| Land area | 4.5 sq mi |
| Density | 3,525 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 06415) | $123,256 |
| Median home value (ZIP 06415) | $366,153 |
Historical data: truck crashes in Southeastern Connecticut 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 | 53 | — | 0.0 |
| 2000s | 71 | +34% | 1.9 |
| 2010s | 66 | -6% | 2.2 |
| 2020s | 84 | +27% | 2.0 |
In the 1990s about 53 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 84. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Colchester
How common are truck crashes in Colchester?
Since 2015, 1,002 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region (419 injured, 26 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Colchester?
NHTSA data shows SR-66 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Colchester since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Colchester?
Truck crashes in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region peak in January, with 10.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Colchester?
Since 2015, Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region has reported 47 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.7% of its truck crashes.
How does Colchester compare with Connecticut for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 30.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, vs 40.2 for Connecticut.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Colchester?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.