ZIP 08520 (Hightstown, NJ) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 08520: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Mercer 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 2.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Mercer County compares with New Jersey
Mercer County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mercer County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mercer County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 54.1 | 56.6 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.59 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.7% | 3.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.5% | 3.3% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.1% | 26.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.6% | 13.7% | 13.8% | 8% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.9% | 19.9% | 24.8% | same |
Mercer County has lower values than New Jersey for in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
ZIP 08520 at a glance: I-95 15 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 08520.
Overview
Since 2015, 2,481 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Mercer County. They injured 1,446 people and killed 51.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 10.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 7.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.0% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for New Jersey.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 3.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Jersey: 3.3%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 08520 is I-95, with 15 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: US-1 (7), SR-33 (3) and US-130 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 93 of the truck crashes here, or 3.7%, compared with 3.6% in New Jersey.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in March (14% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 08520 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Mercer County.
- Check whether your routes use I-95, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at March schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 28.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above New Jersey; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Mercer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 15 |
| US-1 | 7 |
| SR-33 | 3 |
| US-130 | 3 |
| I-195 | 2 |
| CR-522 Buckelew Ave | 1 |
| CR-522 Ridge Rd | 1 |
| CR-539 Forked River Rd | 1 |
| CR-571 Washington Rd | 1 |
| CR-614 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mercer County) |
|---|---|
| I-95, N.J. Turnpike | 348 |
| US-1 | 281 |
| I-295 | 149 |
| I-195 | 130 |
| US-130 | 106 |
| Nj 31 | 102 |
| Nj 29 | 71 |
| US-206 | 70 |
ZIP 08520 at a glance
| Population | 29,504 |
| Density | 632 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $118,010 |
| Median home value | $376,775 |
| Home ownership | 70% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mercer 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 | — | 3.2 |
| 2000s | 302 | +137% | 4.3 |
| 2010s | 241 | -20% | 3.6 |
| 2020s | 201 | -16% | 3.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 127 a year in the 1990s and 201 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 4.0 a year in 2016–19 and 3.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 08520
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 08520?
2,481 truck crashes have been reported in Mercer County since 2015, with 51 deaths and 1,446 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 08520?
Since 2015, I-95 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 08520: 15.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 08520?
October has the most truck crashes in Mercer County, 10.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 08520?
Garbage trucks were involved in 93 reported crashes in Mercer County since 2015 (3.7% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 08520 compared with New Jersey?
Per 100,000 residents, Mercer County has 54.1 truck crashes a year; New Jersey has 56.6.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 08520?
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.