Bernards, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bernards: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bernards and Somerset County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Somerset 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 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. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Bernards: I-287 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Bernards: 6 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 2,953 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Somerset County. They injured 1,454 people and killed 39.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
With 179 truck crashes reported in Bernards since 2015, this page uses Somerset County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.4% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.3% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for New Jersey.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.9% of truck crashes.
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 within 10 miles of Bernards with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-78 (5), US-22 (4) and SR-28 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
95 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.2% share (New Jersey: 3.6%).
Their busiest month is March, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 1.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Bernards fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Somerset County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-287; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at March schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- With 4.5% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above New Jersey), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-287 | 6 |
| I-78 | 5 |
| US-22 | 4 |
| SR-28 | 3 |
| Brown Rd | 1 |
| CR-510 | 1 |
| CR-527 | 1 |
| CR-529 | 1 |
| CR-620 East Front St | 1 |
| CR-646 Shunpike Rd | 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 |
Bernards at a glance
| Population | 28,718 |
| Land area | 24.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,187 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 07920) | $192,857 |
| Median home value (ZIP 07920) | $799,621 |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bernards
How common are truck crashes in Bernards?
Since 2015, 2,953 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Somerset County (1,454 injured, 39 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Bernards?
Since 2015, I-287 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bernards: 6.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Bernards?
The worst month is October: 10.4% of truck crashes in Somerset County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Bernards?
Since 2015, Somerset County has reported 95 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.2% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Bernards compared with New Jersey?
Per 100,000 residents, Somerset County has 69.9 truck crashes a year; New Jersey has 56.6.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Bernards?
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.