ZIP 11971 (Southold, NY) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 11971: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Suffolk 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
1.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Suffolk County compares with New York State
Suffolk County against New York State and the US, 2015–2022 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Suffolk County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2022) | Suffolk County | New York State | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 35.0 | 28.0 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.6 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 20% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.77 | 0.73 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 22% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.4% | 9.4% | 6.2% | 64% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.4% | 25.1% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.1% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 38% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 36.0% | 41.8% | 41.9% | 14% below the state |
| After dark | 13.5% | 22.1% | 24.8% | 39% below the state |
Suffolk County has lower values than New York for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Suffolk County: +115% reported truck crashes a year in the 2010s vs the 2000s (378 vs 176).
Overview
Since 2015, 4,506 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Suffolk County. They injured 3,537 people and killed 83.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 10.0% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.8%).
November through March accounts for 36.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.8% in New York.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (9.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.4% of truck crashes, compared with 9.4% in New York.
Where crashes happen
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location within 10 miles of ZIP 11971 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 129 of the truck crashes here, or 2.9%, compared with 3.6% in New York.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in March (12%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.7 deaths compared with 1.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 11971 fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at March schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 30.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above New York; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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.
Reporting was incomplete in 2023, 2024 and 2025, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Suffolk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Suffolk County) |
|---|---|
| Cross River Drive | 2 |
| Exit 39S Southern State Pkwy | 2 |
| Old Country Road | 2 |
| Broadway | 1 |
| Center Dr. | 1 |
| County Road 39A | 1 |
| Cr 39 | 1 |
| E Jericho Tnpk | 1 |
ZIP 11971 at a glance
| Population | 6,361 |
| Density | 224 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $129,507 |
| Median home value | $837,197 |
| Home ownership | 84% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Suffolk 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 | 166 | — | 10.3 |
| 2000s | 176 | +6% | 9.6 |
| 2010s | 378 | +115% | 7.7 |
| 2020s | 527 | +39% | 8.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 166 a year in the 1990s and 527 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 5.5 a year in 2016–19, 8.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 11971
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 11971?
Suffolk County has had 4,506 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 3,537 people and killing 83.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 11971?
The worst month is August: 10.0% of truck crashes in Suffolk County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 11971?
Garbage trucks were involved in 129 reported crashes in Suffolk County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 11971 compare with New York?
Suffolk County records 35.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 28.0 across New York.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 11971?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2023, 2024 and 2025; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.