ZIP 02472 (Watertown, MA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 02472: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Middlesex County, 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
1.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Middlesex County compares with Massachusetts
Middlesex County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Middlesex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 23.2 | 22.9 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.7% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.2% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 7% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.4% | 27.3% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.8% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.5% | 19.2% | 24.8% | 9% below the state |
Middlesex County has lower values than Massachusetts for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in ZIP 02472: I-93 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 02472: 6 since 2015.
Overview
Middlesex County has recorded 4,505 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,863 people injured and 73 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (9.5% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.9%).
November through March accounts for 42.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.9% in Massachusetts.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 9.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 6.2% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 02472 is I-93, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-95 (5), SR-2A (4) and I-90 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 255 of the truck crashes here, or 5.7%, compared with 5.3% in Massachusetts.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in November (12% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.2, vs 1.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 02472 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Middlesex County.
- Check whether your routes use I-93, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at November schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 30.4% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Massachusetts.
- 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 Middlesex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-93 | 6 |
| I-95 | 5 |
| SR-2A | 4 |
| I-90 | 3 |
| SR-16 | 3 |
| SR-28 | 3 |
| Washington St | 3 |
| Cambridge St | 2 |
| Common St | 2 |
| Massachusetts Ave | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Middlesex County) |
|---|---|
| Main St | 52 |
| Rte 495 | 24 |
| Washington St | 19 |
| Ballardvale St | 19 |
| Main Street | 16 |
| Boston Post Rd | 16 |
| Rte 90 E X 123 | 15 |
| Lowell St | 13 |
ZIP 02472 at a glance
| Population | 35,620 |
| Density | 3,412 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $126,336 |
| Median home value | $784,338 |
| Home ownership | 48% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Middlesex 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 | 107 | — | 5.5 |
| 2000s | 284 | +165% | 4.7 |
| 2010s | 398 | +40% | 4.5 |
| 2020s | 406 | +2% | 7.0 |
In the 1990s about 107 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 406. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.2 a year in 2016–19 and 7.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 02472
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 02472?
Since 2015, 4,505 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Middlesex County (1,863 injured, 73 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 02472?
Since 2015, I-93 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 02472: 6.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 02472?
The worst month is January: 9.5% of truck crashes in Middlesex County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 02472?
Garbage trucks were involved in 255 reported crashes in Middlesex County since 2015 (5.7% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 02472 compared with Massachusetts?
Middlesex County records 23.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 22.9 across Massachusetts.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 02472?
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.