San Marcos, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in San Marcos: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in San Marcos 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. It runs above California on 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 147 truck crashes reported in San Marcos 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%.
November through March accounts for 41.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (7.0%).
Road surface: 0.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Where crashes happen
I-15 leads within 10 miles of San Marcos with 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-5 (4), SR-78 (4) and Buena Creek Rd (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 San Marcos fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in San Diego County.
- Check whether your routes use I-15, 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
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
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-15 | 8 |
| I-5 | 4 |
| SR-78 | 4 |
| Buena Creek Rd | 1 |
| Del Dios Hwy | 1 |
| El Norte Pkwy | 1 |
| Gopher Cnyn Rd | 1 |
| Harmony Grove Rd | 1 |
| N Melrose Dr | 1 |
| Rose St | 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 |
San Marcos at a glance
| Population | 96,620 |
| Land area | 24.6 sq mi |
| Density | 3,932 per sq mi |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 13.5 a year in 2016–19 and 19.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about San Marcos
How many truck accidents are there in San Marcos?
6,646 truck crashes have been reported in San Diego County since 2015, with 235 deaths and 3,402 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in San Marcos?
Since 2015, I-15 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of San Marcos: 8.
When do most truck crashes happen in San Marcos?
March has the most truck crashes in San Diego County, 8.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in San Marcos?
Since 2015, San Diego County has reported 181 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.7% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in San Marcos compare with California?
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 San Marcos?
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.