DeSales University, PA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in DeSales University: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in DeSales University and Lehigh County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lehigh County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lehigh County compares with Pennsylvania
Lehigh County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lehigh County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lehigh County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 83.0 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.44 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 14% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.5% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 50% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.1% | 24.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.8% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.5% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 7% below the state |
| After dark | 26.1% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Lehigh County sits below Pennsylvania on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
What stands out in DeSales University: I-78 deadliest road: 5 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of DeSales University since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 3,737 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lehigh County since 2015: 1,632 people were injured and 85 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
With 0 truck crashes reported in DeSales University since 2015, this page uses Lehigh County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 9.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 7.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.5% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Pennsylvania.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (7.1%).
4.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.1% across Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
I-78 leads within 10 miles of DeSales University with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-309 (4), I-476 (3) and US-222 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 114 crashes, 3.1% of the total, against 3.6% across Pennsylvania.
Their busiest month is September, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 5.5, vs 2.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for DeSales University fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lehigh County.
- Check whether your routes use I-78, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at September schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 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 Lehigh County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-78 | 5 |
| SR-309 | 4 |
| I-476 | 3 |
| US-222 | 3 |
| SR-145 | 2 |
| SR-378 | 2 |
| Mu-American Pkwy | 1 |
| SR-0121 | 1 |
| SR-0663 | 1 |
| SR-2007 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lehigh County) |
|---|---|
| I-0078 | 880 |
| I-7476 | 412 |
| SR-0022 | 400 |
| SR-0309 | 234 |
| SR-0222 | 190 |
| SR-0100 | 152 |
| SR-0145 | 120 |
| SR-1002 | 79 |
DeSales University at a glance
| Land area | 0.6 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 18034) | $153,200 |
| Median home value (ZIP 18034) | $477,825 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lehigh 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 | 170 | — | 4.9 |
| 2000s | 236 | +39% | 4.6 |
| 2010s | 256 | +8% | 4.9 |
| 2020s | 323 | +26% | 4.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 170 a year in the 1990s and 323 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.0 a year in 2016–19, 4.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about DeSales University
How many truck crashes happen in DeSales University?
Lehigh County has had 3,737 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,632 people and killing 85.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in DeSales University?
NHTSA data shows I-78 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of DeSales University since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in DeSales University?
The worst month is October: 9.2% of truck crashes in Lehigh County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in DeSales University?
114 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lehigh County since 2015, 3.1% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in DeSales University compare with Pennsylvania?
The yearly rate is 83.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lehigh County, vs 57.2 for Pennsylvania.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in DeSales University?
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.