Paterson, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Paterson: 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
3.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Paterson compares with New Jersey
Paterson against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Paterson stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Paterson | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 42.2 | 56.6 | 49.7 | 25% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.1 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 31% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.67 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.3% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.5% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 23% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.9% | 26.0% | 23.7% | 16% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.0% | 13.7% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.1% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.7% | 19.9% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Paterson sits below New Jersey on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
Paterson at a glance: I-95 most fatal truck crashes within 15 miles of Paterson: 26 since 2015.
Overview
Paterson has recorded 777 truck crashes since 2015, with 520 people injured and 8 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 5 days.
When crashes happen
June has the most truck crashes, 10.8% of the yearly total, while January has the fewest (6.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.1% of truck crashes, against 40.9% across New Jersey.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (9.3%).
Road surface: 2.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Jersey: 3.3%).
Where crashes happen
I-95 leads within 15 miles of Paterson with 26 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-80 (11), I-87 (10) and US-1 (9).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 33 of the truck crashes here, or 4.2%, compared with 3.6% in New Jersey.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in March (18% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.1, vs 1.1 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Paterson fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Paterson.
- Look at alternatives to I-95 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: March is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Paterson.
- 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 Paterson
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 26 |
| I-80 | 11 |
| I-87 | 10 |
| US-1 | 9 |
| I-287 | 8 |
| I-280 | 7 |
| SR-17 | 6 |
| SR-23 | 5 |
| SR-3 | 5 |
| Broadway | 4 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Paterson) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 190 |
| Nj 20 | 71 |
| I-80 Secondary | 40 |
| Passaic County 647 | 38 |
| Passaic County 648 | 24 |
| Passaic County 649 | 22 |
| Broadway Ave | 14 |
| Passaic County 646 | 13 |
Paterson at a glance
| Population | 160,463 |
| Land area | 8.4 sq mi |
| Density | 19,073 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 07501) | $44,300 |
| Median home value (ZIP 07501) | $327,025 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Paterson 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 | 26 | — | 2.2 |
| 2000s | 89 | +243% | 1.9 |
| 2010s | 72 | -19% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 62 | -14% | 1.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 26 to 62. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Paterson
How many truck crashes happen in Paterson?
Since 2015, 777 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Paterson (520 injured, 8 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Paterson?
NHTSA data shows I-95 with 26 fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Paterson since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Paterson?
June has the most truck crashes in Paterson, 10.8% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Paterson?
Since 2015, Paterson has reported 33 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.2% of its truck crashes.
How does Paterson compare with New Jersey for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 42.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Paterson, vs 56.6 for New Jersey.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Paterson?
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.