El Cerrito, Contra Costa County, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in El Cerrito, Contra Costa County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in El Cerrito, Contra Costa County and Contra Costa County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Contra Costa County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Contra Costa County compares with California
Contra Costa County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Contra Costa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Contra Costa County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 17.7 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 47% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 14% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.1% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 86% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.3% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.8% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.3% | 29.1% | 24.8% | same |
Contra Costa County has lower values than California for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Contra Costa County: 1 in 38 crashes involve a garbage truck (60 since 2015), vs 1.6% across California.
Overview
Since 2015, 2,377 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Contra Costa County. They injured 1,171 people and killed 73.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
With 24 truck crashes reported in El Cerrito, Contra Costa County since 2015, this page uses Contra Costa County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 7.3%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.8% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.8% of truck crashes.
0.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.9% across California.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (18). It is followed by I-880 (4), I-580 (2) and 5th Street (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
60 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.5% share (California: 1.6%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in February (15%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 3.3 deaths compared with 3.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for El Cerrito, Contra Costa County fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: February is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Contra Costa County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.3% of truck crashes here, more than California; 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
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 Contra Costa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 18 |
| I-880 | 4 |
| I-580 | 2 |
| 5th Street | 1 |
| Bancroft Way | 1 |
| College Ave | 1 |
| Cutting Blvd | 1 |
| Giant Rd | 1 |
| Powell St | 1 |
| Richmond Pkwy | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Contra Costa County) |
|---|---|
| SR-4 | 21 |
| I-680 | 14 |
| Sr-4 W/B | 8 |
| Sr-4 E/B | 5 |
| Richmond Pkwy/Pittsburg Av | 5 |
| Clayton Rd | 4 |
| I-80 | 4 |
| Sr160 Sb/1500Ft N Wilbur Av | 3 |
El Cerrito, Contra Costa County at a glance
| Population | 26,409 |
| Land area | 3.7 sq mi |
| Density | 7,192 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 94530) | $128,529 |
| Median home value (ZIP 94530) | $1,114,174 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Contra Costa 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 | — | — | 4.8 |
| 2000s | 123 | — | 4.4 |
| 2010s | 176 | +43% | 3.7 |
| 2020s | 207 | +17% | 6.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 123 a year in the 2000s and 207 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 5.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 6.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about El Cerrito, Contra Costa County
How common are truck crashes in El Cerrito, Contra Costa County?
Since 2015, 2,377 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Contra Costa County (1,171 injured, 73 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in El Cerrito, Contra Costa County?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of El Cerrito: 18.
Which month has the most truck crashes in El Cerrito, Contra Costa County?
Truck crashes in Contra Costa County peak in August, with 10.1% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in El Cerrito, Contra Costa County?
60 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Contra Costa County since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
How does El Cerrito, Contra Costa County compare with California for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Contra Costa County has 17.7 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in El Cerrito, Contra Costa County?
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.