Scotch Plains, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Scotch Plains: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Scotch Plains and Union County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Union County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Union County compares with New Jersey
Union County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Union County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Union County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 78.1 | 56.6 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.1 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 31% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.52 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 10% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 13% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.5% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 23% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.7% | 26.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.9% | 13.7% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.7% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.9% | 19.9% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with New Jersey, Union County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr.
The headline for Scotch Plains: I-95 14 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Scotch Plains.
Overview
Since 2015, 5,456 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Union County. They injured 2,850 people and killed 55.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
With 67 truck crashes reported in Scotch Plains since 2015, this page uses Union County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 9.3% of the yearly total, while January has the fewest (7.5%).
November through March accounts for 41.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.9% in New Jersey.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 8.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 2.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Jersey: 3.3%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Scotch Plains is I-95, with 14 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-78 (9), US-1 (9) and SR-27 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 169 crashes, 3.1% of the total, against 3.6% across New Jersey.
Their busiest month is September, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.3, vs 1.1 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Scotch Plains fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Union County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-95; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Union County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 14 |
| I-78 | 9 |
| US-1 | 9 |
| SR-27 | 4 |
| SR-440 | 3 |
| I-287 | 2 |
| SR-124 | 2 |
| SR-24 | 2 |
| US-22 | 2 |
| US-9 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Union County) |
|---|---|
| I-95, N.J. Turnpike | 1,041 |
| US-1 | 473 |
| I-78 | 426 |
| I-95 | 249 |
| US-22 | 228 |
| Division St | 135 |
| I-95 Secondary | 126 |
| Nj 27 | 92 |
Scotch Plains at a glance
| Population | 25,223 |
| Land area | 9.0 sq mi |
| Density | 2,796 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 07076) | $183,655 |
| Median home value (ZIP 07076) | $720,008 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Union 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 | 227 | — | 4.8 |
| 2000s | 530 | +134% | 4.8 |
| 2010s | 424 | -20% | 3.3 |
| 2020s | 470 | +11% | 4.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 227 a year in the 1990s and 470 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.8 a year in 2016–19, 4.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Scotch Plains
How many truck accidents are there in Scotch Plains?
Since 2015, 5,456 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Union County (2,850 injured, 55 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Scotch Plains?
Since 2015, I-95 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Scotch Plains: 14.
When do most truck crashes happen in Scotch Plains?
The worst month is October: 9.3% of truck crashes in Union County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Scotch Plains?
Since 2015, Union County has reported 169 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.1% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Scotch Plains compared with New Jersey?
Union County records 78.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.6 across New Jersey.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Scotch Plains?
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.