Orinda, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Orinda: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Orinda 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. It runs above California on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Contra Costa County: 1 in 38 crashes involve a garbage truck (60 since 2015), vs 1.6% across California.
Overview
Contra Costa County has recorded 2,377 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,171 people injured and 73 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
Orinda had 30 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Contra Costa County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 7.3%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.8% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out 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
I-80 leads within 10 miles of Orinda with 10 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-680 (7), I-880 (6) and 5th Street (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 60 crashes, 2.5% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in February (15%).
They recorded 3.3 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Orinda fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Contra Costa County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in February; review collection routes for that month.
- 26.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above California; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
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 | 10 |
| I-680 | 7 |
| I-880 | 6 |
| 5th Street | 1 |
| Bancroft Way | 1 |
| Clayton Rd | 1 |
| College Ave | 1 |
| Merriewood Dr | 1 |
| Pacheco Blvd | 1 |
| Powell St | 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 |
Orinda at a glance
| Population | 19,573 |
| Land area | 12.9 sq mi |
| Density | 1,523 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 94563) | $250,001 |
| Median home value (ZIP 94563) | $1,851,935 |
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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 5.8 a year in 2016–19, 6.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Orinda
How common are truck crashes in Orinda?
2,377 truck crashes have been reported in Contra Costa County since 2015, with 73 deaths and 1,171 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Orinda?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Orinda: 10.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Orinda?
Truck crashes in Contra Costa County peak in August, with 10.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Orinda?
Since 2015, Contra Costa County has reported 60 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.5% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Orinda compared with California?
The yearly rate is 17.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Contra Costa County, vs 33.2 for California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Orinda?
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.