ZIP 19970 (Ocean View, DE) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 19970: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Sussex 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
4.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Sussex County compares with Delaware
Sussex County against Delaware and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Sussex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Sussex County | Delaware | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.6 | 53.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.52 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 3.7% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.6% | 2.2% | 6.2% | 28% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.2% | 25.1% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.3% | 12.0% | 13.8% | 14% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.2% | 39.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.8% | 22.7% | 24.8% | 26% below the state |
Sussex County sits below Delaware on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Delaware on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
ZIP 19970 at a glance: SR-1 deadliest road: 2 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 19970 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,559 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Sussex County. They injured 874 people and killed 45.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 9.2% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (7.1%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.2% of truck crashes, against 39.9% across Delaware.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 8.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.6% of truck crashes, compared with 2.2% in Delaware.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-1 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). After it: CR-334 Dagsboro Rd (1), SR-17 (1) and SR-24 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 66 crashes, 4.2% of the total, against 3.7% across Delaware.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in September (14% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 4.9 deaths compared with 3.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 19970 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use SR-1, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at September schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 28.2% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Delaware; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Sussex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-1 | 2 |
| CR-334 Dagsboro Rd | 1 |
| SR-17 | 1 |
| SR-24 | 1 |
| SR-54 | 1 |
| US-113 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Sussex County) |
|---|---|
| Us113 Dupont Blvd | 107 |
| Us13 Sussex Hwy | 92 |
| Sr1 Coastal Hwy | 50 |
| John J Williams Hwy | 48 |
| Lewes-Georgetown Hwy | 42 |
| Us 13 Sussex Hwy | 36 |
| Seashore Hwy | 32 |
| Sussex Hwy | 30 |
ZIP 19970 at a glance
| Population | 8,524 |
| Density | 353 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $94,103 |
| Median home value | $525,579 |
| Home ownership | 91% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Sussex 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 | 76 | — | 4.5 |
| 2000s | 61 | -20% | 4.0 |
| 2010s | 106 | +73% | 4.3 |
| 2020s | 143 | +35% | 3.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 76 to 143. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 19970
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 19970?
Since 2015, 1,559 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Sussex County (874 injured, 45 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 19970?
NHTSA data shows SR-1 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 19970 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 19970?
Truck crashes in Sussex County peak in October, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 19970?
Since 2015, Sussex County has reported 66 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.2% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 19970 compare with Delaware for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Sussex County has 49.6 truck crashes a year; Delaware has 53.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 19970?
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.