San Luis Obispo County, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in San Luis Obispo County: 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
15 of 920 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How San Luis Obispo County compares with California
San Luis Obispo County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where San Luis Obispo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | San Luis Obispo County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 28.4 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 14% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 8% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 9% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.3% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 63% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.7% | 23.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.0% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 23% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 36.1% | 40.2% | 41.9% | 10% below the state |
| After dark | 24.9% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
San Luis Obispo County sits below California on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in San Luis Obispo County: US-101 most fatal truck crashes in San Luis Obispo County: 10 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 920 crashes involving commercial trucks in San Luis Obispo County since 2015: 371 people were injured and 30 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 5 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 10.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is January at 5.1%.
November through March accounts for 36.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.3% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
US-101 leads in San Luis Obispo County with 10 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-46 (8), SR-166 (2) and CR-PARKHILL Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
15 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.6% share (California: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for San Luis Obispo County fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in San Luis Obispo County.
- Look at alternatives to US-101 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 Luis Obispo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in San Luis Obispo County) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 10 |
| SR-46 | 8 |
| SR-166 | 2 |
| CR-PARKHILL Rd | 1 |
| Morro Bay Blvd | 1 |
| SR-193 | 1 |
| SR-41 | 1 |
| South Higuera St | 1 |
| Trouville Ave | 1 |
| W Pozo Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (San Luis Obispo County) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 15 |
| SR-1 | 8 |
| SR-46E | 5 |
| Rt101/Wellsona Rd | 4 |
| SR-41 | 3 |
| Rt46/4220Ft W Lucy Brown Rd | 3 |
| Rt166/4M E Alamo Creek Rd | 3 |
| Creston Rd | 2 |
San Luis Obispo County at a glance
| Population | 281,843 |
| Land area | 3,300.8 sq mi |
| Density | 85 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $97,168 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in San Luis Obispo 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 | — | — | 3.2 |
| 2000s | 56 | — | 2.6 |
| 2010s | 72 | +28% | 2.6 |
| 2020s | 80 | +12% | 2.2 |
In the 2000s about 56 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 80. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.2 a year in 2016–19, 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in San Luis Obispo County
ZIP codes in San Luis Obispo County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about San Luis Obispo County
How many truck accidents are there in San Luis Obispo County?
Since 2015, 920 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in San Luis Obispo County (371 injured, 30 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in San Luis Obispo County?
NHTSA data shows US-101 with 10 fatal large-truck crashes in San Luis Obispo County since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in San Luis Obispo County?
The worst month is September: 10.4% of truck crashes in San Luis Obispo County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in San Luis Obispo County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in San Luis Obispo County since 2015 (1.6% of truck crashes).
How does San Luis Obispo County compare with California for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 28.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in San Luis Obispo County, vs 33.2 for California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in San Luis Obispo County?
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.