New Bedford, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in New Bedford: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in New Bedford and Bristol County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Bristol County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Bristol County compares with Massachusetts
Bristol County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Bristol County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Bristol County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 23.2 | 22.9 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 6.8% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.8% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 28% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.6% | 27.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.8% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 18% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.4% | 19.2% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Massachusetts, Bristol County is lower on on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Bristol County: December garbage-truck crashes peak in December (14% of the year's total).
Overview
Police reported 1,612 crashes involving commercial trucks in Bristol County since 2015: 872 people were injured and 49 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
New Bedford had 189 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Bristol County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 9.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 7.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.4% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for Massachusetts.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (8.5%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.8% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of New Bedford since 2015 were spread across roads: I-195 (3), SR-24 (3), 640 Sodom Road (1), Brayton Ave (1) and Bridge St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
106 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 6.6% share (Massachusetts: 5.3%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in December (14%).
They recorded 2.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for New Bedford fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Bristol County.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at December schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Bristol County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-195 | 3 |
| SR-24 | 3 |
| 640 Sodom Road | 1 |
| Brayton Ave | 1 |
| Bridge St | 1 |
| Cross Rd | 1 |
| I-495 | 1 |
| Joseph Dr | 1 |
| Rochester Rd | 1 |
| S Main St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Bristol County) |
|---|---|
| Broadway | 12 |
| Rte 95 | 12 |
| Winthrop St | 12 |
| South Main St | 11 |
| County St | 9 |
| New State Hwy | 8 |
| Bay St | 7 |
| Winthrop Street | 7 |
New Bedford at a glance
| Population | 101,318 |
| Land area | 20.0 sq mi |
| Density | 5,065 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 02746) | $41,917 |
| Median home value (ZIP 02746) | $356,894 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Bristol 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 | 38 | — | 2.2 |
| 2000s | 106 | +180% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 158 | +49% | 2.6 |
| 2020s | 136 | -14% | 3.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 38 to 136. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.8 a year in 2016–19, 3.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about New Bedford
How many truck accidents are there in New Bedford?
Since 2015, 1,612 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Bristol County (872 injured, 49 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in New Bedford?
December has the most truck crashes in Bristol County, 9.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in New Bedford?
106 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Bristol County since 2015, 6.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in New Bedford compared with Massachusetts?
Per 100,000 residents, Bristol County has 23.2 truck crashes a year; Massachusetts has 22.9.
How can I plan a safer truck route in New Bedford?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.