San Diego County, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in San Diego 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
2.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How San Diego County compares with California
San Diego County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where San Diego County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | San Diego County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 17.6 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 47% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.3% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 70% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.4% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.8% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.0% | 29.1% | 24.8% | same |
San Diego County has lower values than California for crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above California on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for San Diego County: 1 in 36 crashes involve a garbage truck (181 since 2015), vs 1.6% across California.
Overview
San Diego County has recorded 6,646 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,402 people injured and 235 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 2 truck crashes every day.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 8.8% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (7.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.8% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (7.0%).
0.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.9% across California.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-5 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (26). It is followed by I-15 (24), I-8 (13) and SR-78 (8).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 181 of the truck crashes here, or 2.7%, compared with 1.6% in California.
Their busiest month is July, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.8 deaths compared with 3.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for San Diego County fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-5, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in July; 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 San Diego County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in San Diego County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 26 |
| I-15 | 24 |
| I-8 | 13 |
| SR-78 | 8 |
| SR-76 | 7 |
| I-805 | 5 |
| SR-163 | 5 |
| Otay Mesa Rd | 4 |
| SR-67 | 4 |
| SR-94 | 4 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (San Diego County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 33 |
| I-805 | 29 |
| I-15 | 28 |
| SR-15 | 10 |
| I-8 | 9 |
| SR-78 | 7 |
| Sr-78 E/B | 7 |
| SR-52 | 5 |
San Diego County at a glance
| Population | 3,298,799 |
| Land area | 4,210.5 sq mi |
| Density | 783 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $110,517 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in San Diego 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 | 2 | — | 14.4 |
| 2000s | 411 | +20465% | 16.2 |
| 2010s | 514 | +25% | 12.4 |
| 2020s | 570 | +11% | 19.8 |
In the 1990s about 2 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 570. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 13.5 a year in 2016–19 and 19.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in San Diego County
ZIP codes in San Diego County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about San Diego County
How common are truck crashes in San Diego County?
6,646 truck crashes have been reported in San Diego County since 2015, with 235 deaths and 3,402 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in San Diego County?
I-5 had 26 fatal crashes involving a large truck in San Diego County since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in San Diego County?
March has the most truck crashes in San Diego County, 8.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in San Diego County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 181 reported crashes in San Diego County since 2015 (2.7% of truck crashes).
How does San Diego County compare with California for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, San Diego County has 17.6 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How can I plan a safer truck route in San Diego County?
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.