ZIP 18704 (Kingston, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 18704: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Luzerne 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
3.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Luzerne County compares with Pennsylvania
Luzerne County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Luzerne County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 74.6 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 23% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 17% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.4% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.9% | 24.5% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.8% | 19.0% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.9% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Luzerne County has lower values than Pennsylvania for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Pennsylvania on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
What stands out in Luzerne County: December more garbage-truck crashes happen in December than in any other month (17%).
Overview
Police reported 2,881 crashes involving commercial trucks in Luzerne County since 2015: 1,313 people were injured and 56 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 9.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 7.0%.
November through March accounts for 43.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Pennsylvania.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
10.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.1% across Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-81 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). It is followed by SR-2007 (2), CR-DEMUNDS Rd (1) and SR-1044 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 82 of the truck crashes here, or 2.8%, compared with 3.6% in Pennsylvania.
Their busiest month is December, with 17% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 3.7 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 18704 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-81 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- 10.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Pennsylvania; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Luzerne County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 3 |
| SR-2007 | 2 |
| CR-DEMUNDS Rd | 1 |
| SR-1044 | 1 |
| SR-2004 | 1 |
| Ssr-2007 E Northampton St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Luzerne County) |
|---|---|
| I-0081 | 818 |
| I-0080 | 562 |
| SR-0309 | 167 |
| I-7476 | 113 |
| SR-0315 | 104 |
| SR-0093 | 95 |
| SR-0924 | 86 |
| SR-0011 | 75 |
ZIP 18704 at a glance
| Population | 31,149 |
| Density | 1,189 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $64,444 |
| Median home value | $162,180 |
| Home ownership | 60% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Luzerne 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 | 147 | — | 4.4 |
| 2000s | 194 | +32% | 4.6 |
| 2010s | 182 | -6% | 3.2 |
| 2020s | 257 | +41% | 3.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 147 to 257. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.5 a year in 2016–19, 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 18704
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 18704?
Since 2015, 2,881 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Luzerne County (1,313 injured, 56 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 18704?
Since 2015, I-81 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 18704: 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 18704?
The worst month is December: 9.3% of truck crashes in Luzerne County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 18704?
Garbage trucks were involved in 82 reported crashes in Luzerne County since 2015 (2.8% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 18704 compare with Pennsylvania for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 74.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Luzerne County, vs 57.2 for Pennsylvania.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 18704?
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.