San Diego, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in San Diego: 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
5.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How San Diego compares with California
San Diego against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where San Diego stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | San Diego | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 14.5 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 56% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.1% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 90% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.1% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.2% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.7% | 29.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with California, San Diego 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).
The headline for San Diego: 1 in 38 garbage-truck share of crashes is 2.6%, against 1.6% for California.
Overview
Since 2015, 2,352 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in San Diego. They injured 1,287 people and killed 76.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 9.5% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (7.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.0% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.1% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
I-15 leads within 15 miles of San Diego with 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-5 (7), I-805 (5) and SR-163 (5).
Garbage & waste trucks
61 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.6% share (California: 1.6%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in April (15%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 5.1, vs 3.4 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for San Diego fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-15, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: April is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in San Diego.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.1% 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
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
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-15 | 8 |
| I-5 | 7 |
| I-805 | 5 |
| SR-163 | 5 |
| I-8 | 3 |
| SR-15 | 3 |
| SR-52 | 3 |
| SR-67 | 3 |
| SR-54 | 2 |
| 1000 Sixth Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (San Diego) |
|---|---|
| I-805 | 23 |
| I-15 | 20 |
| I-5 | 11 |
| SR-15 | 10 |
| SR-52 | 5 |
| Otay Mesa Rd/Piper Ranch Rd | 4 |
| Rt52/2M W Mast Bl | 4 |
| I-8 | 3 |
San Diego at a glance
| Population | 1,404,452 |
| Land area | 326.1 sq mi |
| Density | 4,307 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 92123) | $132,534 |
| Median home value (ZIP 92123) | $864,703 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in San Diego 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 | — | — | 14.4 |
| 2000s | 190 | — | 16.2 |
| 2010s | 190 | +0% | 12.4 |
| 2020s | 191 | +0% | 19.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 190 a year in the 2000s and 191 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 San Diego
How many truck accidents are there in San Diego?
San Diego has had 2,352 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,287 people and killing 76.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in San Diego?
Since 2015, I-15 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of San Diego: 8.
When do most truck crashes happen in San Diego?
December has the most truck crashes in San Diego, 9.5% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in San Diego?
61 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in San Diego since 2015, 2.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in San Diego compared with California?
San Diego records 14.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
How can I plan a safer truck route in San Diego?
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.