Colma, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Colma: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Colma and San Mateo County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use San Mateo County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How San Mateo County compares with California
San Mateo County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where San Mateo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | San Mateo County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 15.7 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 53% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.7 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 25% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 100% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.0% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.6% | 6.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.0% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.3% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 23% below the state |
San Mateo County sits below California on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above California on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
San Mateo County at a glance: 1 in 32 garbage-truck share of crashes is 3.1%, against 1.6% for California.
Overview
San Mateo County has recorded 1,319 truck crashes since 2015, with 630 people injured and 36 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
Colma had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use San Mateo County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (10.8% of the year) and are lowest in May (6.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.0% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-101 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (6). Next come I-80 (2), 16th St (1) and 28th St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 40 crashes, 3.0% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in September (18%).
They recorded 7.5 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Colma fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in San Mateo County.
- Look at alternatives to US-101 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- 28.0% 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 Mateo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 6 |
| I-80 | 2 |
| 16th St | 1 |
| 28th St | 1 |
| 7th St | 1 |
| Brannan St | 1 |
| California Dr | 1 |
| Callan Bl | 1 |
| Cortland Av | 1 |
| Diamond St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (San Mateo County) |
|---|---|
| Us-101 N/B | 15 |
| Us-101 S/B | 9 |
| Rt92/.3M E Rt35 | 4 |
| Rt92/3.6M E Foster City Bl | 4 |
| Sr-92 E/B | 4 |
| Woodside Rd/Broadway | 3 |
| SR-1 | 3 |
| Rt92/100Ft W Pilarcitos Creek Rd | 3 |
Colma at a glance
| Population | 1,428 |
| Land area | 1.9 sq mi |
| Density | 755 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 94014) | $122,966 |
| Median home value (ZIP 94014) | $1,032,067 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in San Mateo 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 | — | — | 2.8 |
| 2000s | 77 | — | 2.2 |
| 2010s | 115 | +49% | 2.2 |
| 2020s | 102 | -11% | 2.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 77 a year in the 2000s and 102 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Colma
How many truck crashes happen in Colma?
1,319 truck crashes have been reported in San Mateo County since 2015, with 36 deaths and 630 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Colma?
US-101 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Colma since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Colma?
June has the most truck crashes in San Mateo County, 10.8% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Colma?
Since 2015, San Mateo County has reported 40 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.0% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Colma compared with California?
The yearly rate is 15.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in San Mateo County, vs 33.2 for California.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Colma?
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.