Orange County, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Orange County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Orange County compares with California
Orange County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Orange County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Orange County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 19.8 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 40% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 33% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.1% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 90% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 23.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 4.8% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 27% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.2% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.7% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Compared with California, Orange County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above California on garbage-truck share.
Orange County at a glance: 0.1% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 0.9% in California.
Overview
Police reported 7,193 crashes involving commercial trucks in Orange County since 2015: 3,142 people were injured and 167 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 2 truck crashes every day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (9.5% of the year) and are lowest in December (7.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.2% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 7.3% of truck crashes.
0.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.9% across California.
Where crashes happen
I-5 leads in Orange County with 22 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-57 (12), I-405 (11) and SR-91 (10).
Garbage & waste trucks
128 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.8% share (California: 1.6%).
Their busiest month is March, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 6.5 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Orange County fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Orange County.
- Look at alternatives to I-5 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in March; review collection routes for that month.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Orange County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Orange County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 22 |
| SR-57 | 12 |
| I-405 | 11 |
| SR-91 | 10 |
| SR-22 | 4 |
| SR-55 | 4 |
| SR-74 | 4 |
| SR-241 | 3 |
| Anaheim Bl | 2 |
| Fairview Rd | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Orange County) |
|---|---|
| SR-91 | 43 |
| I-5 | 40 |
| SR-57 | 26 |
| SR-55 | 18 |
| Sr-91 W/B | 14 |
| Sr-91 E/B | 11 |
| I-405 | 9 |
| SR-241 | 8 |
Orange County at a glance
| Population | 3,170,435 |
| Land area | 792.9 sq mi |
| Density | 3,999 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $118,973 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Orange 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 | — | 9.9 |
| 2000s | 444 | +8772% | 11.4 |
| 2010s | 627 | +41% | 10.2 |
| 2020s | 592 | -6% | 10.0 |
In the 1990s about 5 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 592. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 14.8 a year in 2016–19, 10.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Orange County
ZIP codes in Orange County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Orange County
How common are truck crashes in Orange County?
Orange County has had 7,193 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 3,142 people and killing 167.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Orange County?
Since 2015, I-5 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Orange County: 22.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Orange County?
Truck crashes in Orange County peak in March, with 9.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Orange County?
128 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Orange County since 2015, 1.8% of all truck crashes.
How does Orange County compare with California for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Orange County has 19.8 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Orange 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.