ZIP 19973 (Seaford, DE) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 19973: 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. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for ZIP 19973: US-13 deadliest road: 3 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 19973 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
Truck crashes peak in October (9.2% of the year) and are lowest in February (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
US-13 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 19973 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-18 (2), SR-313 (2) and Atlanta Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 66 crashes, 4.2% of the total, against 3.7% across Delaware.
Their busiest month is September, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 4.9 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 19973 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Sussex County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-13; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at September schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.2% of truck crashes here, more than Delaware; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Sussex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-13 | 3 |
| SR-18 | 2 |
| SR-313 | 2 |
| Atlanta Rd | 1 |
| CR-46 Old Furnace Rd | 1 |
| CR-543 | 1 |
| Horsey Church Road | 1 |
| SR-24 | 1 |
| SR-307 | 1 |
| SR-318 | 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 19973 at a glance
| Population | 26,834 |
| Density | 123 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $64,387 |
| Median home value | $271,581 |
| Home ownership | 72% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 76 a year in the 1990s and 143 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. 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 19973
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 19973?
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 19973?
US-13 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 19973 since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 19973?
The worst month is October: 9.2% of truck crashes in Sussex County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 19973?
Since 2015, Sussex County has reported 66 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.2% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 19973 compare with Delaware for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 49.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Sussex County, vs 53.2 for Delaware.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 19973?
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.