ZIP 16438 (Union City, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 16438: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Erie 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
2.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Erie County compares with Pennsylvania
Erie County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Erie County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Erie County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 47.4 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 17% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 46% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 20% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 33.2% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 3.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.7% | 24.5% | 23.7% | 7% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 31.4% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 1.7× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 54.3% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 28.1% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Erie County has lower values than Pennsylvania for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It runs above Pennsylvania on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in Erie County: 33.2% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 9.1% in Pennsylvania.
Overview
Erie County has recorded 1,491 truck crashes since 2015, with 690 people injured and 19 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 19.7% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 54.3% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Pennsylvania.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 8.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 33.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Pennsylvania: 9.1%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 16438 since 2015: SR-8 (2), US-6 (2), SR-1007 (1) and SR-77 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 40 of the truck crashes here, or 2.7%, compared with 3.6% in Pennsylvania.
Their busiest month is January, with 20% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.5, vs 1.4 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 16438 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Erie County.
- Waste haulers: January is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Erie County.
- 33.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Pennsylvania; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Erie County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-8 | 2 |
| US-6 | 2 |
| SR-1007 | 1 |
| SR-77 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Erie County) |
|---|---|
| I-0090 | 660 |
| SR-0020 | 81 |
| I-0079 | 73 |
| SR-0005 | 71 |
| SR-0197 | 38 |
| SR-0006 | 32 |
| SR-0019 | 31 |
| SR-0008 | 30 |
ZIP 16438 at a glance
| Population | 7,421 |
| Density | 28 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $65,000 |
| Median home value | $141,943 |
| Home ownership | 76% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Erie 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 | 125 | — | 4.3 |
| 2000s | 137 | +9% | 3.3 |
| 2010s | 105 | -24% | 1.7 |
| 2020s | 124 | +18% | 2.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 125 a year in the 1990s and 124 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 16438
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 16438?
Erie County has had 1,491 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 690 people and killing 19.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 16438?
January has the most truck crashes in Erie County, 19.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 16438?
40 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Erie County since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 16438 compare with Pennsylvania?
The yearly rate is 47.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Erie County, vs 57.2 for Pennsylvania.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 16438?
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.