ZIP 17522 (Ephrata, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 17522: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lancaster 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
2.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lancaster County compares with Pennsylvania
Lancaster County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lancaster County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lancaster County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 63.9 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 8% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.44 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.5% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 39% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.0% | 24.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.4% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 19% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.2% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 21% below the state |
Compared with Pennsylvania, Lancaster County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
ZIP 17522 at a glance: I-76 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 17522: 5 since 2015.
Overview
Lancaster County has recorded 4,274 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,880 people injured and 104 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (10.7% of the year) and are lowest in December (7.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.3% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Pennsylvania.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (7.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 5.5% of truck crashes, compared with 9.1% in Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
I-76 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 17522 with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-322 (4), SR-272 (3) and SR-501 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 174 of the truck crashes here, or 4.1%, compared with 3.6% in Pennsylvania.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (13% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.4 deaths compared with 2.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 17522 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lancaster County.
- Look at alternatives to I-76 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- 27.0% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Pennsylvania; 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
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 Lancaster County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-76 | 5 |
| US-322 | 4 |
| SR-272 | 3 |
| SR-501 | 2 |
| Ssr-1011 Railroad Ave | 2 |
| SR-0501 | 1 |
| SR-1013 | 1 |
| SR-340 | 1 |
| SR-772 | 1 |
| US-0222 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lancaster County) |
|---|---|
| SR-0030 | 693 |
| SR-0222 | 441 |
| I-6000 | 350 |
| SR-0300 | 257 |
| SR-0272 | 178 |
| SR-0072 | 147 |
| SR-0023 | 146 |
| SR-0322 | 130 |
ZIP 17522 at a glance
| Population | 33,852 |
| Density | 304 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $74,828 |
| Median home value | $283,694 |
| Home ownership | 64% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lancaster 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 | 274 | — | 8.3 |
| 2000s | 275 | +1% | 6.5 |
| 2010s | 287 | +4% | 6.9 |
| 2020s | 378 | +32% | 8.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 274 a year in the 1990s and 378 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 7.2 a year in 2016–19 and 8.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 17522
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 17522?
Lancaster County has had 4,274 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,880 people and killing 104.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 17522?
NHTSA data shows I-76 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 17522 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 17522?
October has the most truck crashes in Lancaster County, 10.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 17522?
174 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lancaster County since 2015, 4.1% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 17522 compare with Pennsylvania for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Lancaster County has 63.9 truck crashes a year; Pennsylvania has 57.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 17522?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.