ZIP 13603 (Watertown, NY) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 13603: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Jefferson 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
7 of 449 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Jefferson County compares with New York State
Jefferson 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 Jefferson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2022) | Jefferson County | New York State | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 44.7 | 28.0 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.73 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 51% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 35.6% | 9.4% | 6.2% | 3.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.7% | 25.1% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 39.5% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 2.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 59.8% | 41.8% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 20.0% | 22.1% | 24.8% | 10% below the state |
Jefferson County sits below New York on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Jefferson County at a glance: 35.6% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 9.4% across New York.
Overview
Jefferson County has recorded 449 truck crashes since 2015, with 261 people injured and 8 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 7 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (18.0% of the year) and are lowest in September (3.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 59.8% of truck crashes, vs 41.8% for New York.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 9.8% of truck crashes.
35.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.4% across New York.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 13603 happened on US-11 (2) and SR-3 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 1.6% of the total, against 3.6% across New York.
Route planning tips for ZIP 13603 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- With 35.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above New York), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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.
Crash reporting for 2023, 2024 and 2025 is incomplete; those years are shown in grey and not used for rates.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Jefferson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-11 | 2 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jefferson County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 8 |
| Northbound On I-81 | 1 |
| Us Rte 11 | 1 |
ZIP 13603 at a glance
| Population | 14,136 |
| Density | 986 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $62,500 |
| Home ownership | 4% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jefferson 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 | 47 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 41 | -13% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 46 | +13% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 51 | +10% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 47 to 51. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 13603
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 13603?
Since 2015, 449 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Jefferson County (261 injured, 8 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 13603?
The worst month is January: 18.0% of truck crashes in Jefferson County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 13603?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Jefferson County since 2015, 1.6% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 13603 compare with New York for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Jefferson County has 44.7 truck crashes a year; New York has 28.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 13603?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
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.