ZIP 18079 (Slatedale, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 18079: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lehigh 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
5.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lehigh County compares with Pennsylvania
Lehigh County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lehigh County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lehigh County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 83.0 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.44 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 14% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.5% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 50% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.1% | 24.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.8% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.5% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 7% below the state |
| After dark | 26.1% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Lehigh County has lower values than Pennsylvania for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
What stands out in Lehigh County: 4.5% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Pennsylvania: 9.1%).
Overview
Police reported 3,737 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lehigh County since 2015: 1,632 people were injured and 85 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 9.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 7.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.5% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Pennsylvania.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 7.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.5% of truck crashes, compared with 9.1% in Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 18079 since 2015: I-476 (2), SR-309 (2), SR-0248 (1), SR-1045 (1) and SR-145 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 114 of the truck crashes here, or 3.1%, compared with 3.6% in Pennsylvania.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in September (11%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 5.5, vs 2.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 18079 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Lehigh County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-476 | 2 |
| SR-309 | 2 |
| SR-0248 | 1 |
| SR-1045 | 1 |
| SR-145 | 1 |
| SR-146 | 1 |
| SR-248 | 1 |
| SR-3019 | 1 |
| SR-443 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lehigh County) |
|---|---|
| I-0078 | 880 |
| I-7476 | 412 |
| SR-0022 | 400 |
| SR-0309 | 234 |
| SR-0222 | 190 |
| SR-0100 | 152 |
| SR-0145 | 120 |
| SR-1002 | 79 |
ZIP 18079 at a glance
| Population | 303 |
| Density | 471 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $96,071 |
| Median home value | $198,235 |
| Home ownership | 100% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lehigh 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 | 170 | — | 4.9 |
| 2000s | 236 | +39% | 4.6 |
| 2010s | 256 | +8% | 4.9 |
| 2020s | 323 | +26% | 4.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 170 to 323. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.0 a year in 2016–19 and 4.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 18079
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 18079?
3,737 truck crashes have been reported in Lehigh County since 2015, with 85 deaths and 1,632 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 18079?
Truck crashes in Lehigh County peak in October, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 18079?
Garbage trucks were involved in 114 reported crashes in Lehigh County since 2015 (3.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 18079 compared with Pennsylvania?
Lehigh County records 83.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.2 across Pennsylvania.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 18079?
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.