Providence, RI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Providence: 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
3 of 239 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Providence compares with Rhode Island
Providence against Rhode Island and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Providence stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Providence | Rhode Island | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 10.8 | 14.2 | 49.7 | 24% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.9 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.57 | 0.64 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.3% | 4.6% | 2.3% | 72% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.2% | 5.6% | 6.2% | 61% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.7% | 28.0% | 23.7% | 12% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.6% | 14.1% | 13.8% | 11% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.7% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.3% | 19.0% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Providence has lower values than Rhode Island for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Rhode Island on deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
Providence at a glance: 1 in 77 crashes involve a garbage truck (3 since 2015), vs 4.6% across Rhode Island.
Overview
Providence has recorded 239 truck crashes since 2015, with 134 people injured and 9 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 17 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (12.6% of the year) and are lowest in August (4.2%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.7% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for Rhode Island.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 2.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Rhode Island: 5.6%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 15 miles of Providence is I-95, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by I-195 (3), I-295 (3) and US-44 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 3 of the truck crashes here, or 1.3%, compared with 4.6% in Rhode Island.
Route planning tips for Providence fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Providence.
- Look at alternatives to I-95 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Providence
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 7 |
| I-195 | 3 |
| I-295 | 3 |
| US-44 | 3 |
| US-6 | 3 |
| US-6A | 2 |
| Adamsdale Rd | 1 |
| Atwells Ave | 1 |
| Brayton Ave | 1 |
| Cranston St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Providence) |
|---|---|
| SR-95 | 151 |
| SR-6 | 23 |
| SR-146 | 15 |
| SR-195 | 14 |
| Allens Ave | 4 |
| SR-10 | 3 |
| Elmwood Ave | 2 |
| Exit 37A (I-95 S @ Atwells Av) | 2 |
Providence at a glance
| Population | 194,706 |
| Land area | 18.4 sq mi |
| Density | 10,578 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Providence 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 | 12 | — | 2.2 |
| 2000s | 44 | +259% | 3.0 |
| 2010s | 25 | -43% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 20 | -19% | 2.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 12 a year in the 1990s and 20 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Providence
How many truck accidents are there in Providence?
239 truck crashes have been reported in Providence since 2015, with 9 deaths and 134 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Providence?
I-95 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 15 miles of Providence since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Providence?
September has the most truck crashes in Providence, 12.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Providence?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Providence since 2015 (1.3% of truck crashes).
How does Providence compare with Rhode Island for truck crashes?
Providence records 10.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 14.2 across Rhode Island.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Providence?
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.