Pennington, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Pennington: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Pennington and Mercer County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Mercer County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Mercer County compares with New Jersey
Mercer County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mercer County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mercer County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 54.1 | 56.6 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.59 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.7% | 3.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.5% | 3.3% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.1% | 26.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.6% | 13.7% | 13.8% | 8% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.9% | 19.9% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with New Jersey, Mercer County is lower on in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
Mercer County at a glance: March garbage-truck crashes peak in March (14% of the year's total).
Overview
Police reported 2,481 crashes involving commercial trucks in Mercer County since 2015: 1,446 people were injured and 51 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
With 8 truck crashes reported in Pennington since 2015, this page uses Mercer County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 10.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 7.1%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.0% of truck crashes, against 40.9% across New Jersey.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.3% of truck crashes.
3.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.3% across New Jersey.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Pennington since 2015: SR-31 (3), US-1 (3), SR-129 (2), CR-571 Washington Rd (1) and CR-579 Sullivan Way (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
93 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.7% share (New Jersey: 3.6%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in March (14%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Pennington fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Mercer County.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in March; review collection routes for that month.
- 28.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above New Jersey; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Mercer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-31 | 3 |
| US-1 | 3 |
| SR-129 | 2 |
| CR-571 Washington Rd | 1 |
| CR-579 Sullivan Way | 1 |
| CR-614 | 1 |
| Elmer St | 1 |
| I-295 | 1 |
| SR-1 | 1 |
| SR-27 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mercer County) |
|---|---|
| I-95, N.J. Turnpike | 348 |
| US-1 | 281 |
| I-295 | 149 |
| I-195 | 130 |
| US-130 | 106 |
| Nj 31 | 102 |
| Nj 29 | 71 |
| US-206 | 70 |
Pennington at a glance
| Population | 2,906 |
| Land area | 1.0 sq mi |
| Density | 3,024 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 08534) | $175,573 |
| Median home value (ZIP 08534) | $573,925 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mercer 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 | 127 | — | 3.2 |
| 2000s | 302 | +137% | 4.3 |
| 2010s | 241 | -20% | 3.6 |
| 2020s | 201 | -16% | 3.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 127 a year in the 1990s and 201 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 4.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Pennington
How many truck accidents are there in Pennington?
Mercer County has had 2,481 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,446 people and killing 51.
When do most truck crashes happen in Pennington?
October has the most truck crashes in Mercer County, 10.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Pennington?
93 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Mercer County since 2015, 3.7% of all truck crashes.
How does Pennington compare with New Jersey for truck crashes?
Mercer County records 54.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.6 across New Jersey.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Pennington?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.