Sussex County, DE truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Sussex County: 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
4.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Sussex County compares with Delaware
Sussex County against Delaware and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Sussex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Sussex County | Delaware | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.6 | 53.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.52 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 3.7% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.6% | 2.2% | 6.2% | 28% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.2% | 25.1% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.3% | 12.0% | 13.8% | 14% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.2% | 39.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.8% | 22.7% | 24.8% | 26% below the state |
Sussex County has lower values than Delaware for on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Delaware on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Sussex County at a glance: SR-24 5 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road in Sussex County.
Overview
Sussex County has recorded 1,559 truck crashes since 2015, with 874 people injured and 45 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 9.2% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (7.1%).
November through March accounts for 38.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 39.9% in Delaware.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 8.9% of truck crashes.
1.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 2.2% across Delaware.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-24 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). It is followed by US-13 (4), SR-1 (3) and US-113 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 66 of the truck crashes here, or 4.2%, compared with 3.7% in Delaware.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in September (14%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 4.9 deaths compared with 3.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Sussex County fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-24; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at September schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.2% of truck crashes here, more than Delaware; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Sussex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Sussex County) |
|---|---|
| SR-24 | 5 |
| US-13 | 4 |
| SR-1 | 3 |
| US-113 | 3 |
| US-9 | 3 |
| SR-18 | 2 |
| SR-20 | 2 |
| SR-26 | 2 |
| SR-30 | 2 |
| Atlanta Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Sussex County) |
|---|---|
| Us113 Dupont Blvd | 107 |
| Us13 Sussex Hwy | 92 |
| Sr1 Coastal Hwy | 50 |
| John J Williams Hwy | 48 |
| Lewes-Georgetown Hwy | 42 |
| Us 13 Sussex Hwy | 36 |
| Seashore Hwy | 32 |
| Sussex Hwy | 30 |
Sussex County at a glance
| Population | 271,134 |
| Land area | 936.1 sq mi |
| Density | 290 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $80,132 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Sussex County 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 | 76 | — | 4.5 |
| 2000s | 61 | -20% | 4.0 |
| 2010s | 106 | +73% | 4.3 |
| 2020s | 143 | +35% | 3.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 76 a year in the 1990s and 143 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Sussex County
ZIP codes in Sussex County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Sussex County
How common are truck crashes in Sussex County?
Since 2015, 1,559 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Sussex County (874 injured, 45 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Sussex County?
Since 2015, SR-24 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Sussex County: 5.
When do most truck crashes happen in Sussex County?
Truck crashes in Sussex County peak in October, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Sussex County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 66 reported crashes in Sussex County since 2015 (4.2% of truck crashes).
How does Sussex County compare with Delaware for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 49.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Sussex County, vs 53.2 for Delaware.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Sussex County?
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.