San Rafael, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in San Rafael: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in San Rafael and Marin County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Marin County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
21 of 487 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Marin County compares with California
Marin County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Marin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Marin County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 16.3 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 51% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 16% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 2.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 54% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 31.7% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.7% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.4% | 40.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 16.3% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 44% below the state |
Compared with California, Marin County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Marin County: 1 in 24 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.1%, vs 1.6% in California.
Overview
Since 2015, 487 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Marin County. They injured 182 people and killed 20.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
San Rafael had 138 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Marin County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (10.1% of the year) and are lowest in April (5.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.4% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 11.7% of truck crashes.
0.4% 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 San Rafael with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-580 (2), US-101 (2) and 3rd St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 21 crashes, 4.3% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Their busiest month is December, with 19% of garbage-truck crashes.
Route planning tips for San Rafael fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Marin County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: December is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Marin County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 31.7% of truck crashes here, more than California; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Marin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 4 |
| I-580 | 2 |
| US-101 | 2 |
| 3rd St | 1 |
| CR-LUCAS Vly Rd | 1 |
| Cutting Blvd | 1 |
| Fourth St | 1 |
| Giant Rd | 1 |
| Loma Linda Ave | 1 |
| Los Ranchitos Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Marin County) |
|---|---|
| Us-101 S/B | 9 |
| Bel Marin Keys Bl/Nave Dr | 2 |
| Caledonia St/Pine St | 2 |
| Chileno Valley Rd | 2 |
| N. Knoll Rd | 2 |
| Novato Bl/.4Mi W Of Copper Hill Wy | 2 |
| Rt101/.1M S Alameda Del Prado | 2 |
| Rt101/.1M S San Antonio Rd | 2 |
San Rafael at a glance
| Population | 59,961 |
| Land area | 16.6 sq mi |
| Density | 3,615 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Marin 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 | — | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 33 | — | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 43 | +29% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 38 | -12% | 1.2 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 33 to 38. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about San Rafael
How common are truck crashes in San Rafael?
Marin County has had 487 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 182 people and killing 20.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in San Rafael?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of San Rafael: 4.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in San Rafael?
May has the most truck crashes in Marin County, 10.1% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in San Rafael?
Garbage trucks were involved in 21 reported crashes in Marin County since 2015 (4.3% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in San Rafael compare with California?
Marin County records 16.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
How can I plan a safer truck route in San Rafael?
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.