ZIP 19731 (Port Penn, DE) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 19731: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in New Castle 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
1.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How New Castle County compares with Delaware
New Castle County against Delaware and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where New Castle County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | New Castle County | Delaware | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 59.0 | 53.2 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.52 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 3.7% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.2% | 2.2% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.9% | 25.1% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.7% | 12.0% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 39.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.5% | 22.7% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Delaware, New Castle County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark.
What stands out in New Castle County: +35% change in yearly reported truck crashes from the 2000s (222) to the 2010s (299).
Overview
Since 2015, 4,020 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in New Castle County. They injured 1,975 people and killed 87.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is May with 9.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 7.4%.
November through March accounts for 40.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 39.9% in Delaware.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.2% of truck crashes, compared with 2.2% in Delaware.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 19731 since 2015: SR-1 (6), US-13 (6), US-40 (3), SR-15 (2) and SR-49 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 142 crashes, 3.5% of the total, against 3.7% across Delaware.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (11% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.5, vs 2.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 19731 fleets
- Build extra time into May routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January 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
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 New Castle County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-1 | 6 |
| US-13 | 6 |
| US-40 | 3 |
| SR-15 | 2 |
| SR-49 | 1 |
| SR-9 | 1 |
| US-301 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (New Castle County) |
|---|---|
| I-95 John F Kennedy Mem Hwy | 487 |
| I-495 Vietnam Vets Mem Hwy | 222 |
| Sr1 Korean War Vets Mem Hwy | 142 |
| I-95 | 85 |
| I-295 | 56 |
| Us13 Dupont Pkwy | 55 |
| Summit Bridge Rd | 53 |
| I-295 John F Kennedy Mem Hwy | 53 |
ZIP 19731 at a glance
| Population | 655 |
| Density | 100 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $71,282 |
| Home ownership | 92% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in New Castle 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 | 308 | — | 7.9 |
| 2000s | 222 | -28% | 6.5 |
| 2010s | 299 | +35% | 5.1 |
| 2020s | 354 | +19% | 6.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 308 to 354. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 5.5 a year in 2016–19 and 6.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 19731
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 19731?
New Castle County has had 4,020 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,975 people and killing 87.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 19731?
Truck crashes in New Castle County peak in May, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 19731?
Garbage trucks were involved in 142 reported crashes in New Castle County since 2015 (3.5% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 19731 compare with Delaware for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 59.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in New Castle County, vs 53.2 for Delaware.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 19731?
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.