Encinitas, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Encinitas: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Encinitas 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 |
San Diego County sits below California on 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 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 2.8%, vs 1.6% in 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.
That averages about 2 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
Only 121 truck crashes were reported in Encinitas since 2015; patterns below come from San Diego County as a whole.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 8.8% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (7.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.8% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 7.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-5 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (6). It is followed by SR-78 (3), Buena Creek Rd (1) and Del Dios Hwy (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 181 of the truck crashes here, or 2.7%, compared with 1.6% in California.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in July (12%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.8, vs 3.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Encinitas fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-5; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: July is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in San Diego County.
- 26.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above California; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 San Diego County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 6 |
| SR-78 | 3 |
| Buena Creek Rd | 1 |
| Del Dios Hwy | 1 |
| El Camino Real | 1 |
| Harmony Grove Rd | 1 |
| S El Camino Real | 1 |
| San Dieguito Rd | 1 |
| W Vista Way | 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 |
Encinitas at a glance
| Population | 61,137 |
| Land area | 19.1 sq mi |
| Density | 3,208 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 92024) | $158,507 |
| Median home value (ZIP 92024) | $1,604,580 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 570 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 13.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 19.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Encinitas
How many truck crashes happen in Encinitas?
Since 2015, 6,646 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in San Diego County (3,402 injured, 235 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Encinitas?
Since 2015, I-5 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Encinitas: 6.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Encinitas?
March has the most truck crashes in San Diego County, 8.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Encinitas?
Since 2015, San Diego County has reported 181 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.7% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Encinitas compared with California?
The yearly rate is 17.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in San Diego County, vs 33.2 for California.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Encinitas?
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.