Dover, DE truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Dover: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 233 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Dover compares with Delaware
Dover against Delaware and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Dover stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Dover | Delaware | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 48.0 | 53.2 | 49.7 | 10% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 27% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.52 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.4% | 3.7% | 2.3% | 37% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.3% | 2.2% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.8% | 25.1% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.1% | 12.0% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.4% | 39.9% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 21.2% | 22.7% | 24.8% | same |
Dover has lower values than Delaware for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher injuries per crash, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Dover: US-13 5 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Dover.
Overview
Dover has recorded 233 truck crashes since 2015, with 132 people injured and 4 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 19 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
November has the most truck crashes, 10.7% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (6.0%).
November through March accounts for 43.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 39.9% in Delaware.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (11.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.3% of truck crashes, compared with 2.2% in Delaware.
Where crashes happen
US-13 leads within 10 miles of Dover with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come S. Little Creek Rd (1), SR-1 (1) and Westville Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 5 of the truck crashes here, or 2.1%, compared with 3.7% in Delaware.
Route planning tips for Dover fleets
- Plan November schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Dover.
- Check whether your routes use US-13, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Morning starts matter: 27.8% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Delaware.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 3.3% of truck crashes here, more than Delaware; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Dover
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-13 | 5 |
| S. Little Creek Rd | 1 |
| SR-1 | 1 |
| Westville Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Dover) |
|---|---|
| Us13 N Dupont Hwy | 15 |
| Sr1 Korean War Vets Mem Hwy | 14 |
| Bay Rd | 12 |
| Saulsbury Rd | 10 |
| Puncheon Run | 8 |
| Us13 S Dupont Hwy | 7 |
| Us 13 N Dupont Hwy | 5 |
| Forest Ave | 5 |
Dover at a glance
| Population | 40,191 |
| Land area | 23.8 sq mi |
| Density | 1,687 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Dover 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 | 24 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 11 | -57% | 1.9 |
| 2010s | 17 | +61% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 20 | +16% | 2.4 |
In the 1990s about 24 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 20. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Dover
How many truck crashes happen in Dover?
Since 2015, 233 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Dover (132 injured, 4 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Dover?
US-13 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Dover since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Dover?
November has the most truck crashes in Dover, 10.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Dover?
Since 2015, Dover has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.1% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Dover compare with Delaware?
Dover records 48.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 53.2 across Delaware.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Dover?
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.