Descanso, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Descanso: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Descanso and San Diego County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use San Diego County numbers.
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 |
Compared with California, San Diego County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
San Diego County at a glance: 1 in 36 crashes involve a garbage truck (181 since 2015), vs 1.6% across California.
Overview
Police reported 6,646 crashes involving commercial trucks in San Diego County since 2015: 3,402 people were injured and 235 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 2 truck crashes every day.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Descanso since 2015, this page uses San Diego County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 8.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 7.8%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.8% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (7.0%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.3% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-8 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). After it: CR-PINE Blvd (1) and Old Highway 80 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
181 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.7% share (California: 1.6%).
Their busiest month is July, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.8, vs 3.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Descanso fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in San Diego County.
- Look at alternatives to I-8 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: July is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in San Diego County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.3% 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
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-8 | 4 |
| CR-PINE Blvd | 1 |
| Old Highway 80 | 1 |
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 |
Descanso at a glance
| Land area | 19.2 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 91916) | $103,438 |
| Median home value (ZIP 91916) | $669,651 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 570. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 13.5 a year in 2016–19, 19.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Descanso
How many truck crashes happen in Descanso?
San Diego County has had 6,646 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 3,402 people and killing 235.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Descanso?
NHTSA data shows I-8 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Descanso since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Descanso?
Truck crashes in San Diego County peak in March, with 8.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Descanso?
Since 2015, San Diego County has reported 181 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.7% of its truck crashes.
How does Descanso compare with California for truck crashes?
San Diego County records 17.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Descanso?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.