Whittier, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Whittier: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Whittier and Los Angeles County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Los Angeles County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Los Angeles County compares with California
Los Angeles County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Los Angeles County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Los Angeles County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 31.4 | 33.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 31% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 82% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.8% | 23.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.8% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 11% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.8% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.9% | 29.1% | 24.8% | same |
Los Angeles County sits below California on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share.
The headline for Whittier: SR-60 deadliest road: 18 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Whittier since 2015.
Overview
Los Angeles County has recorded 34,951 truck crashes since 2015, with 14,954 people injured and 875 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 8 truck crashes a day.
With 197 truck crashes reported in Whittier since 2015, this page uses Los Angeles County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 8.9% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (7.8%).
November through March accounts for 41.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 6.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-60 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (18). It is followed by I-10 (15), I-605 (15) and I-5 (11).
Garbage & waste trucks
634 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.8% share (California: 1.6%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in February (11%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.5, vs 2.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Whittier fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use SR-60, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: February is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Los Angeles County.
- 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 Los Angeles County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-60 | 18 |
| I-10 | 15 |
| I-605 | 15 |
| I-5 | 11 |
| SR-91 | 7 |
| SR-57 | 6 |
| Imperial Hwy | 5 |
| Slauson Ave | 4 |
| Carmenita Rd | 3 |
| I-105 | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Los Angeles County) |
|---|---|
| I-605 | 43 |
| I-5 | 43 |
| SR-60 | 33 |
| SR-91 | 25 |
| I-10 W/B (San Bernardino Fwy) | 22 |
| I-5 S/B (Golden State Freeway) | 22 |
| Sr-14 N/B | 22 |
| I-710 S/B (Long Beach Freeway) | 19 |
Whittier at a glance
| Population | 85,589 |
| Land area | 14.6 sq mi |
| Density | 5,843 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 90602) | $68,505 |
| Median home value (ZIP 90602) | $767,548 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Los Angeles 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 | 12 | — | 62.3 |
| 2000s | 2,148 | +17804% | 55.4 |
| 2010s | 2,934 | +37% | 48.7 |
| 2020s | 2,943 | +0% | 61.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 12 to 2,943. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 54.0 a year in 2016–19, 61.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Whittier
How common are truck crashes in Whittier?
Since 2015, 34,951 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Los Angeles County (14,954 injured, 875 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Whittier?
NHTSA data shows SR-60 with 18 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Whittier since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Whittier?
The worst month is October: 8.9% of truck crashes in Los Angeles County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Whittier?
Garbage trucks were involved in 634 reported crashes in Los Angeles County since 2015 (1.8% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Whittier compared with California?
Los Angeles County records 31.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Whittier?
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.