Imperial Beach, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Imperial Beach: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Imperial Beach 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 has lower values than California for crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in San Diego County: 1 in 36 garbage-truck share of crashes is 2.8%, against 1.6% for 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.
Imperial Beach had 1 reported truck crash since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use San Diego County numbers.
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.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 7.0% of truck crashes.
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 (4). After it: I-805 (2), SR-905 (2) and Coronado Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
181 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.7% share (California: 1.6%).
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 Imperial Beach fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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-5 | 4 |
| I-805 | 2 |
| SR-905 | 2 |
| Coronado Ave | 1 |
| H St | 1 |
| Harbor Dr | 1 |
| La Media Rd | 1 |
| Otay Mesa Rd | 1 |
| Palm Ave | 1 |
| SR-54 | 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 |
Imperial Beach at a glance
| Population | 25,568 |
| Land area | 4.3 sq mi |
| Density | 5,960 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 91932) | $85,833 |
| Median home value (ZIP 91932) | $856,865 |
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. 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 Imperial Beach
How many truck crashes happen in Imperial Beach?
Since 2015, 6,646 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in San Diego County (3,402 injured, 235 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Imperial Beach?
NHTSA data shows I-5 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Imperial Beach since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Imperial Beach?
Truck crashes in San Diego County peak in March, with 8.8% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Imperial Beach?
181 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in San Diego County since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
How does Imperial Beach compare with California for truck crashes?
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 Imperial Beach?
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.