Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Carmel-by-the-Sea: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Monterey County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Monterey County compares with California
Monterey County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Monterey County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Monterey County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 33.1 | 33.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.9 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.1× 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 | 0.3% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 66% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.2% | 23.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 4.7% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 28% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 28.0% | 40.2% | 41.9% | 30% below the state |
| After dark | 24.5% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Monterey County has lower values than California for on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Monterey County: September 12.9% of truck crashes happen in September, more than any other month.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,633 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Monterey County. They injured 697 people and killed 62.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
Carmel-by-the-Sea had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Monterey County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (12.9% of the year) and are lowest in February (4.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 28.0% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.3% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Carmel-by-the-Sea since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-LAURELES Grade (1), Cr- Carmel Valley Rd (1) and Madison St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 29 crashes, 1.8% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in February (14% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 3.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Carmel-by-the-Sea fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in February; review collection routes for that month.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Monterey County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-LAURELES Grade | 1 |
| Cr- Carmel Valley Rd | 1 |
| Madison St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Monterey County) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 26 |
| Rt101/Spence Rd | 20 |
| Rt101/Hartnell Rd | 7 |
| SR-1 | 6 |
| SR-183 | 4 |
| San Juan Road | 4 |
| Rt101/.1M N Boronda Rd | 4 |
| Rt101/.2M N John St | 4 |
Carmel-by-the-Sea at a glance
| Population | 3,124 |
| Land area | 1.1 sq mi |
| Density | 2,944 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 93921) | $96,923 |
| Median home value (ZIP 93921) | $1,931,078 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Monterey 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 | — | — | 5.2 |
| 2000s | 85 | — | 4.4 |
| 2010s | 134 | +57% | 3.5 |
| 2020s | 139 | +4% | 6.0 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 85 to 139. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 3.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 6.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Carmel-by-the-Sea
How many truck crashes happen in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
1,633 truck crashes have been reported in Monterey County since 2015, with 62 deaths and 697 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Truck crashes in Monterey County peak in September, with 12.9% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Since 2015, Monterey County has reported 29 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.8% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Carmel-by-the-Sea compare with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Monterey County has 33.1 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
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.