Providence County, RI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Providence 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
9.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Providence County compares with Rhode Island
Providence County against Rhode Island and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Providence County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Providence County | Rhode Island | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 14.0 | 14.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.6 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.63 | 0.64 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.0% | 4.6% | 2.3% | 13% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.0% | 5.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.0% | 28.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.6% | 14.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.3% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.3% | 19.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Rhode Island, Providence County is lower on garbage-truck share. It runs above Rhode Island on deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
The headline for Providence County: I-95 deadliest road: 4 fatal truck crashes in Providence County since 2015.
Overview
Providence County has recorded 1,094 truck crashes since 2015, with 685 people injured and 38 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (10.3% of the year) and are lowest in August (6.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.3% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for Rhode Island.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 6.0% of truck crashes, compared with 5.6% in Rhode Island.
Where crashes happen
I-95 leads in Providence County with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-44 (3), US-6 (3) and I-195 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
46 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.2% share (Rhode Island: 4.6%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in November (20% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 9.5 deaths compared with 3.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Providence County fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-95 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at November 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
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 Providence County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Providence County) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 4 |
| US-44 | 3 |
| US-6 | 3 |
| I-195 | 2 |
| I-295 | 2 |
| US-6A | 2 |
| Atwells Ave | 1 |
| Cranston St | 1 |
| SR-1 | 1 |
| SR-102 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Providence County) |
|---|---|
| SR-95 | 208 |
| SR-295 | 86 |
| SR-146 | 82 |
| SR-195 | 46 |
| Hartford Ave | 35 |
| SR-6 | 32 |
| Putnam Pike | 22 |
| Mendon Rd | 19 |
Providence County at a glance
| Population | 675,912 |
| Land area | 409.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,651 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $81,925 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Providence 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 | 40 | — | 2.2 |
| 2000s | 141 | +251% | 3.0 |
| 2010s | 105 | -25% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 86 | -18% | 2.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 40 a year in the 1990s and 86 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Providence County
ZIP codes in Providence County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Providence County
How many truck crashes happen in Providence County?
Since 2015, 1,094 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Providence County (685 injured, 38 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Providence County?
I-95 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Providence County since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Providence County?
Truck crashes in Providence County peak in October, with 10.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Providence County?
Since 2015, Providence County has reported 46 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.2% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Providence County compared with Rhode Island?
Providence County records 14.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 14.2 across Rhode Island.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Providence County?
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.