ZIP 07069 (Watchung, NJ) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 07069: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Somerset 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Somerset County compares with New Jersey
Somerset County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Somerset County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Somerset County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 69.9 | 56.6 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 13% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.3% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 8% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.5% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.7% | 26.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.9% | 13.7% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.9% | 19.9% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with New Jersey, Somerset County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above New Jersey on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for ZIP 07069: I-78 6 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 07069.
Overview
Since 2015, 2,953 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Somerset County. They injured 1,454 people and killed 39.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (10.4% of the year) and are lowest in March (6.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.3% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for New Jersey.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 4.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Jersey: 3.3%).
Where crashes happen
I-78 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 07069 with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-95 (5), I-287 (4) and US-1 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
95 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.2% share (New Jersey: 3.6%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in March (14% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 1.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 07069 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-78; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: March is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Somerset County.
- With 4.5% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above New Jersey), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Somerset County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-78 | 6 |
| I-95 | 5 |
| I-287 | 4 |
| US-1 | 4 |
| SR-28 | 3 |
| SR-24 | 2 |
| SR-440 | 2 |
| 444 Gsp | 1 |
| CR-501 New Durham Rd | 1 |
| CR-510 S Orange Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Somerset County) |
|---|---|
| I-287 | 627 |
| I-78 | 409 |
| US-22 | 211 |
| US-202 | 156 |
| US-206 | 141 |
| SR-527 | 112 |
| I-287 Secondary | 93 |
| I-78 Secondary | 74 |
ZIP 07069 at a glance
| Population | 6,623 |
| Density | 404 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $171,705 |
| Median home value | $884,005 |
| Home ownership | 84% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Somerset 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 | 127 | — | 3.5 |
| 2000s | 282 | +122% | 3.0 |
| 2010s | 242 | -14% | 1.8 |
| 2020s | 242 | +0% | 2.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 127 a year in the 1990s and 242 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 07069
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 07069?
Since 2015, 2,953 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Somerset County (1,454 injured, 39 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 07069?
NHTSA data shows I-78 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 07069 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 07069?
The worst month is October: 10.4% of truck crashes in Somerset County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 07069?
95 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Somerset County since 2015, 3.2% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 07069 compared with New Jersey?
Per 100,000 residents, Somerset County has 69.9 truck crashes a year; New Jersey has 56.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 07069?
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.