ZIP 18017 (Bethlehem, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 18017: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Northampton 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
2.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Northampton County compares with Pennsylvania
Northampton County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Northampton County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Northampton County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 56.5 | 57.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 35% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 3.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.9% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 46% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.7% | 24.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.9% | 19.0% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.6% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 10% below the state |
| After dark | 24.2% | 24.2% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Pennsylvania, Northampton County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and winter months (nov–mar).
ZIP 18017 at a glance: I-78 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 18017: 6 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 2,134 crashes involving commercial trucks in Northampton County since 2015: 1,038 people were injured and 35 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 10.3% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.6% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Pennsylvania.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 7.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 4.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Pennsylvania: 9.1%).
Where crashes happen
I-78 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 18017 with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-33 (3), US-22 (3) and SR-145 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
75 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.5% share (Pennsylvania: 3.6%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in November (13%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.8, vs 1.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 18017 fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-78, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at November schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Northampton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-78 | 6 |
| SR-33 | 3 |
| US-22 | 3 |
| SR-145 | 2 |
| SR-248 | 2 |
| SR-378 | 2 |
| Mu-American Pkwy | 1 |
| SR-0033 | 1 |
| SR-0121 | 1 |
| SR-0512 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Northampton County) |
|---|---|
| I-0078 | 473 |
| SR-0033 | 216 |
| SR-0022 | 178 |
| SR-0512 | 167 |
| SR-0248 | 107 |
| SR-0191 | 49 |
| SR-0611 | 47 |
| SR-1002 | 41 |
ZIP 18017 at a glance
| Population | 40,640 |
| Density | 936 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $91,173 |
| Median home value | $333,762 |
| Home ownership | 67% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Northampton 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 | 97 | — | 2.5 |
| 2000s | 116 | +20% | 3.4 |
| 2010s | 132 | +13% | 3.8 |
| 2020s | 206 | +56% | 2.0 |
In the 1990s about 97 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 206. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.5 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 18017
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 18017?
Since 2015, 2,134 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Northampton County (1,038 injured, 35 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 18017?
Since 2015, I-78 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 18017: 6.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 18017?
The worst month is August: 10.3% of truck crashes in Northampton County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 18017?
Since 2015, Northampton County has reported 75 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.5% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 18017 compared with Pennsylvania?
Per 100,000 residents, Northampton County has 56.5 truck crashes a year; Pennsylvania has 57.2.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 18017?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.