Somerset County, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Somerset County: 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Somerset County compares with New Jersey
Somerset County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Somerset County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Somerset County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 69.9 | 56.6 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 13% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.3% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 8% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.5% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.7% | 26.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.9% | 13.7% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.9% | 19.9% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with New Jersey, Somerset County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above New Jersey on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Somerset County: I-287 deadliest road: 5 fatal truck crashes in Somerset County since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 2,953 crashes involving commercial trucks in Somerset County since 2015: 1,454 people were injured and 39 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.4% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.7%).
November through March accounts for 40.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.9% in New Jersey.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.9%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.5% of truck crashes, compared with 3.3% in New Jersey.
Where crashes happen
I-287 leads in Somerset County with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-78 (3), US-22 (3) and SR-28 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 95 crashes, 3.2% of the total, against 3.6% across New Jersey.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in March (14%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 1.4 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Somerset County fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-287 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in March; review collection routes for that month.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 4.5% of truck crashes here, more than New Jersey; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Somerset County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Somerset County) |
|---|---|
| I-287 | 5 |
| I-78 | 3 |
| US-22 | 3 |
| SR-28 | 2 |
| Brown Rd | 1 |
| CR-529 | 1 |
| CR-567 | 1 |
| Cottontail Lane | 1 |
| Old Stage Rd | 1 |
| US-206 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Somerset County) |
|---|---|
| I-287 | 627 |
| I-78 | 409 |
| US-22 | 211 |
| US-202 | 156 |
| US-206 | 141 |
| SR-527 | 112 |
| I-287 Secondary | 93 |
| I-78 Secondary | 74 |
Somerset County at a glance
| Population | 357,467 |
| Land area | 301.9 sq mi |
| Density | 1,184 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $154,836 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Somerset 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 | — | 3.5 |
| 2000s | 282 | +122% | 3.0 |
| 2010s | 242 | -14% | 1.8 |
| 2020s | 242 | +0% | 2.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 127 a year in the 1990s and 242 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Somerset County
ZIP codes in Somerset County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Somerset County
How common are truck crashes in Somerset County?
Somerset County has had 2,953 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,454 people and killing 39.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Somerset County?
Since 2015, I-287 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Somerset County: 5.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Somerset County?
The worst month is October: 10.4% of truck crashes in Somerset County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Somerset County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 95 reported crashes in Somerset County since 2015 (3.2% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Somerset County compared with New Jersey?
Somerset County records 69.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.6 across New Jersey.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Somerset County?
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.