Salem, CT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Salem: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Salem 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.
What stands out in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region: 1 in 21 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.8%, vs 3.3% in Connecticut.
Overview
Police reported 1,002 crashes involving commercial trucks in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region since 2015: 419 people were injured and 26 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
Only 7 truck crashes were reported in Salem since 2015; patterns below come from Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region as a whole.
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.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, 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
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Salem happened on I-395 (2), SR-16 (2), SR-156 (1), SR-2 (1) and SR-82 (1); no road leads clearly.
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).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 4.4, vs 2.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Salem fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region.
- 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) |
|---|---|
| I-395 | 2 |
| SR-16 | 2 |
| SR-156 | 1 |
| SR-2 | 1 |
| SR-82 | 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 |
Salem at a glance
| Population | 4,326 |
| Land area | 28.9 sq mi |
| Density | 150 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 06420) | $123,425 |
| Median home value (ZIP 06420) | $409,992 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 53 to 84. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Salem
How many truck crashes happen in Salem?
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region has had 1,002 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 419 people and killing 26.
When do most truck crashes happen in Salem?
The worst month is January: 10.9% of truck crashes in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Salem?
47 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region since 2015, 4.7% of all truck crashes.
How does Salem compare with Connecticut for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region has 30.0 truck crashes a year; Connecticut has 40.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Salem?
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.