Charlestown, RI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Charlestown: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Charlestown and Washington County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Washington County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
12 of 212 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Washington County compares with Rhode Island
Washington County against Rhode Island and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washington County | Rhode Island | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 13.5 | 14.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 7% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.70 | 0.64 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.7% | 4.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.7% | 5.6% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.6% | 28.0% | 23.7% | 30% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.9% | 14.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.8% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 11.9% | 19.0% | 24.8% | 38% below the state |
Washington County sits below Rhode Island on deaths per 100 crashes, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark. It runs above Rhode Island on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Washington County: February the month with the most truck crashes: 12.7% of the year's total.
Overview
Since 2015, 212 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Washington County. They injured 145 people and killed 5.
That averages about one truck crash every 21 days in fully reported years.
With 13 truck crashes reported in Charlestown since 2015, this page uses Washington County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (12.7% of the year) and are lowest in October (5.2%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.8% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for Rhode Island.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 12.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 6.7% of truck crashes, compared with 5.6% in Rhode Island.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Charlestown since 2015: I-95 (2). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 12 of the truck crashes here, or 5.7%, compared with 4.6% in Rhode Island.
Route planning tips for Charlestown fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 6.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Rhode Island; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Washington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washington County) |
|---|---|
| SR-95 | 31 |
| Kingstown Rd | 14 |
| Ten Rod Rd | 13 |
| Tower Hill Rd | 11 |
| Post Rd | 10 |
| South County Trl | 8 |
| SR-4 | 7 |
| Commodore Perry (Route 1) Hwy | 5 |
Charlestown at a glance
| Population | 8,052 |
| Land area | 2.3 sq mi |
| Density | 3,558 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 02813) | $109,404 |
| Median home value (ZIP 02813) | $528,083 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Washington 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 | 10 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 27 | +162% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 20 | -26% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 16 | -18% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 10 a year in the 1990s and 16 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 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Charlestown
How many truck crashes happen in Charlestown?
Since 2015, 212 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Washington County (145 injured, 5 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Charlestown?
February has the most truck crashes in Washington County, 12.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Charlestown?
Since 2015, Washington County has reported 12 garbage-truck crashes, or 5.7% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Charlestown compared with Rhode Island?
The yearly rate is 13.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Washington County, vs 14.2 for Rhode Island.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Charlestown?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.