ZIP 08544 (Princeton, NJ) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 08544: 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 sits below New Jersey on in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
ZIP 08544 at a glance: US-1 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 08544: 9 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 2,481 crashes involving commercial trucks in Mercer County since 2015: 1,446 people were injured and 51 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
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.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.3%).
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). Next come I-95 (7), 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.
Their busiest month is March, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 08544 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-1, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in March; review collection routes for that month.
- Morning starts matter: 28.1% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than New Jersey.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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) |
|---|---|
| US-1 | 9 |
| I-95 | 7 |
| 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 08544 at a glance
| Population | 4,392 |
| Density | 10,198 per sq mi |
| Home ownership | 0% |
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 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 08544
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 08544?
Since 2015, 2,481 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Mercer County (1,446 injured, 51 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 08544?
US-1 had 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 08544 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 08544?
The worst month is October: 10.2% of truck crashes in Mercer County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 08544?
Since 2015, Mercer County has reported 93 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.7% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 08544 compare 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 08544?
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.