Bethel, DE truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bethel: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bethel and Sussex County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Sussex County numbers.
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 |
Compared with Delaware, Sussex County is lower on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Bethel at a glance: US-13 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Bethel: 3 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 1,559 crashes involving commercial trucks in Sussex County since 2015: 874 people were injured and 45 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
Bethel had 9 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Sussex County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (9.2% of the year) and are lowest in February (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.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.6% of truck crashes, compared with 2.2% in Delaware.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-13 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: SR-30 (2), CR-46 Old Furnace Rd (1) and CR-543 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 66 crashes, 4.2% of the total, against 3.7% across Delaware.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in September (14% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 4.9, vs 3.0 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Bethel fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-13; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.2% of truck crashes here, more than Delaware; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Sussex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-13 | 3 |
| SR-30 | 2 |
| CR-46 Old Furnace Rd | 1 |
| CR-543 | 1 |
| CR-62 Whaley Rd | 1 |
| Cr- 62 E Trap Pond Rd | 1 |
| Horsey Church Road | 1 |
| SR-24 | 1 |
| SR-313 | 1 |
| SR-392 | 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 |
Bethel at a glance
| Population | 267 |
| Land area | 0.4 sq mi |
| Density | 607 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 19931) | $99,375 |
| Median home value (ZIP 19931) | $299,307 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 76 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 143. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bethel
How many truck accidents are there in Bethel?
Sussex County has had 1,559 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 874 people and killing 45.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Bethel?
Since 2015, US-13 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bethel: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Bethel?
October has the most truck crashes in Sussex County, 9.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Bethel?
Garbage trucks were involved in 66 reported crashes in Sussex County since 2015 (4.2% of truck crashes).
How does Bethel 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 Bethel?
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.