ZIP 15679 (Ruffs Dale, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 15679: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Westmoreland 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
2.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Westmoreland County compares with Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Westmoreland County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Westmoreland County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 58.7 | 57.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 2.6 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.47 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.0% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.3% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 9% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.1% | 24.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.8% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 11% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.5% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.9% | 24.2% | 24.8% | same |
Westmoreland County has lower values than Pennsylvania for injuries per crash, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Pennsylvania on garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Westmoreland County: September is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes: 16% of them.
Overview
Police reported 2,418 crashes involving commercial trucks in Westmoreland County since 2015: 1,010 people were injured and 56 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.9%.
November through March accounts for 41.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Pennsylvania.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 8.3% of truck crashes, compared with 9.1% in Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
SR-31 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 15679 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-70 (2), SR-51 (2) and US-119 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 91 of the truck crashes here, or 3.8%, compared with 3.6% in Pennsylvania.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in September (16% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.2, vs 2.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 15679 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Westmoreland County.
- Look at alternatives to SR-31 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: September is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Westmoreland County.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Westmoreland County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-31 | 3 |
| I-70 | 2 |
| SR-51 | 2 |
| US-119 | 2 |
| SR-0031 | 1 |
| SR-1042 | 1 |
| SR-3016 | 1 |
| SR-981 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Westmoreland County) |
|---|---|
| I-6000 | 518 |
| I-0070 | 348 |
| SR-0022 | 261 |
| SR-0030 | 192 |
| SR-0066 | 101 |
| SR-0119 | 85 |
| SR-0031 | 68 |
| SR-0051 | 48 |
ZIP 15679 at a glance
| Population | 2,781 |
| Density | 49 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $77,099 |
| Median home value | $196,813 |
| Home ownership | 92% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Westmoreland 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 | 193 | — | 5.5 |
| 2000s | 197 | +2% | 5.0 |
| 2010s | 170 | -14% | 4.8 |
| 2020s | 201 | +19% | 4.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 193 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 4.5 a year in 2016–19 and 4.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 15679
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 15679?
Since 2015, 2,418 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Westmoreland County (1,010 injured, 56 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 15679?
Since 2015, SR-31 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 15679: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 15679?
Truck crashes in Westmoreland County peak in January, with 9.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 15679?
Garbage trucks were involved in 91 reported crashes in Westmoreland County since 2015 (3.8% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 15679 compare with Pennsylvania?
Per 100,000 residents, Westmoreland County has 58.7 truck crashes a year; Pennsylvania has 57.2.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 15679?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.