Washington, ME truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Washington: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Washington and Knox County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Knox County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 181 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Knox County compares with Maine
Knox County against Maine and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Knox County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Knox County | Maine | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 36.6 | 57.4 | 49.7 | 36% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.2 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 11% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.7% | 20.2% | 6.2% | 37% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.7% | 26.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.2% | 20.8% | 13.8% | 27% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.4% | 48.2% | 41.9% | 18% below the state |
| After dark | 11.5% | 19.1% | 24.8% | 40% below the state |
Compared with Maine, Knox County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Maine on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Knox County: 4.2 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Maine: 2.6).
Overview
Knox County has recorded 181 truck crashes since 2015, with 109 people injured and 7 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 24 days.
Washington had 24 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Knox County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 12.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 5.0%.
November through March accounts for 39.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 48.2% in Maine.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 10.5% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 12.7% of truck crashes, compared with 20.2% in Maine.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Washington since 2015 were spread across roads: E Pond Rd (1), SR-17 (1), SR-220 (1), SR-3 (1) and Sr- 17 Heald Hwy (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 6 crashes, 3.3% of the total, against 3.4% across Maine.
Route planning tips for Washington fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Knox County.
- 29.7% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Maine; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Knox County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| E Pond Rd | 1 |
| SR-17 | 1 |
| SR-220 | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
| Sr- 17 Heald Hwy | 1 |
| Sr-Belfast Augusta Road | 1 |
| Turner Ridge Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Knox County) |
|---|---|
| Augusta Rd | 12 |
| Main St | 12 |
| Camden Rd | 10 |
| Atlantic Hwy | 10 |
| Heald Hwy | 8 |
| Commercial St | 7 |
| Old County Rd | 7 |
| West St | 6 |
Washington at a glance
| Population | 1,572 |
| Land area | 38.0 sq mi |
| Density | 41 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 04574) | $59,861 |
| Median home value (ZIP 04574) | $205,053 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Knox 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 | 12 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 13 | +11% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 17 | +26% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 13 | -25% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 12 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 13. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Washington
How common are truck crashes in Washington?
Since 2015, 181 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Knox County (109 injured, 7 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Washington?
October has the most truck crashes in Knox County, 12.2% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Washington?
Since 2015, Knox County has reported 6 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Washington compare with Maine?
Knox County records 36.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.4 across Maine.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Washington?
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.