ZIP 08502 (Belle Mead, NJ) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 08502: 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 |
Somerset County has lower values than New Jersey for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
ZIP 08502 at a glance: US-1 8 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 08502.
Overview
Somerset County has recorded 2,953 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,454 people injured and 39 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 10.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.7%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.3% of truck crashes, against 40.9% across New Jersey.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, 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
Within this area, US-1 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (8). It is followed by US-130 (4), I-287 (2) and SR-28 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
95 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.2% share (New Jersey: 3.6%).
Their busiest month is March, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 1.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 08502 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-1, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 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.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
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) |
|---|---|
| US-1 | 8 |
| US-130 | 4 |
| I-287 | 2 |
| SR-28 | 2 |
| CR-522 Ridge Rd | 1 |
| CR-567 | 1 |
| CR-571 Washington Rd | 1 |
| CR-614 | 1 |
| Cottontail Lane | 1 |
| Old Stage Rd | 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 08502 at a glance
| Population | 11,849 |
| Density | 346 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $227,242 |
| Median home value | $816,957 |
| Home ownership | 82% |
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 08502
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 08502?
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 08502?
NHTSA data shows US-1 with 8 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 08502 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 08502?
Truck crashes in Somerset County peak in October, with 10.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 08502?
Garbage trucks were involved in 95 reported crashes in Somerset County since 2015 (3.2% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 08502 compare with New Jersey for truck crashes?
Somerset County records 69.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.6 across New Jersey.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 08502?
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.