Hillsborough, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Hillsborough: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Hillsborough 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 crashes involve a garbage truck (40 since 2015), vs 1.6% across California.
Overview
Police reported 1,319 crashes involving commercial trucks in San Mateo County since 2015: 630 people were injured and 36 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
Hillsborough had 7 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.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.0% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Hillsborough is US-101, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-1 (3), Broadway St (1) and California Dr (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 40 crashes, 3.0% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in September (18% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 7.5 deaths compared with 2.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Hillsborough fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-101, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: September is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in San Mateo County.
- Morning starts matter: 28.0% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than California.
- 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 Mateo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 4 |
| SR-1 | 3 |
| Broadway St | 1 |
| California Dr | 1 |
| Canada Rd | 1 |
| Crestview Dr | 1 |
| El Camino Real | 1 |
| Floribunda Ave | 1 |
| I-280 | 1 |
| I-380 | 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 |
Hillsborough at a glance
| Population | 11,171 |
| Land area | 6.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,812 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 94010) | $196,882 |
| Median home value (ZIP 94010) | $2,000,001 |
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 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 77 to 102. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.8 a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Hillsborough
How common are truck crashes in Hillsborough?
Since 2015, 1,319 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in San Mateo County (630 injured, 36 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Hillsborough?
NHTSA data shows US-101 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Hillsborough since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Hillsborough?
Truck crashes in San Mateo County peak in June, with 10.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Hillsborough?
40 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in San Mateo County since 2015, 3.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Hillsborough compare with California for truck crashes?
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 Hillsborough?
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.