ZIP 08542 (Princeton, NJ) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 08542: 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 |
Compared with New Jersey, Mercer County is lower on in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in ZIP 08542: US-1 deadliest road: 9 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 08542 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 2,481 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Mercer County. They injured 1,446 people and killed 51.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.2% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (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.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.5% of truck crashes, compared with 3.3% in New Jersey.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-1 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (9). It is followed by I-95 (5), US-130 (3) and CR-522 Ridge Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 93 crashes, 3.7% of the total, against 3.6% across New Jersey.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in March (14% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 08542 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Mercer County.
- Look at alternatives to US-1 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at March schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.1% of truck crashes here, more than New Jersey; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
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) |
|---|---|
| US-1 | 9 |
| I-95 | 5 |
| US-130 | 3 |
| CR-522 Ridge Rd | 1 |
| CR-571 Washington Rd | 1 |
| CR-614 | 1 |
| Corn Rd | 1 |
| I-295 | 1 |
| Old Stage Rd | 1 |
| SR-27 | 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 08542 at a glance
| Population | 2,533 |
| Density | 2,538 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $105,524 |
| Median home value | $711,585 |
| Home ownership | 32% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 127 to 201. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 08542
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 08542?
2,481 truck crashes have been reported in Mercer County since 2015, with 51 deaths and 1,446 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 08542?
Since 2015, US-1 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 08542: 9.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 08542?
Truck crashes in Mercer County peak in October, with 10.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 08542?
Garbage trucks were involved in 93 reported crashes in Mercer County since 2015 (3.7% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 08542 compare with New Jersey?
The yearly rate is 54.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Mercer County, vs 56.6 for New Jersey.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 08542?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.