Pacifica, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Pacifica: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Pacifica 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 has lower values than California for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
San Mateo County at a glance: 1 in 32 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 3.1%, vs 1.6% in 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.
With 19 truck crashes reported in Pacifica since 2015, this page uses San Mateo County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
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.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.4%).
Road surface: 0.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Where crashes happen
US-101 leads within 10 miles of Pacifica with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-1 (3), 28th St (1) and California Dr (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
40 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.0% share (California: 1.6%).
Their busiest month is September, with 18% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 7.5, vs 2.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Pacifica fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-101; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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.
- 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 |
| 28th St | 1 |
| California Dr | 1 |
| Callan Bl | 1 |
| Cortland Av | 1 |
| Diamond St | 1 |
| El Camino Real | 1 |
| Floribunda Ave | 1 |
| Geneva Av | 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 |
Pacifica at a glance
| Population | 37,056 |
| Land area | 12.6 sq mi |
| Density | 2,945 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 94044) | $160,408 |
| Median home value (ZIP 94044) | $1,253,737 |
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 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 Pacifica
How many truck accidents are there in Pacifica?
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 Pacifica?
Since 2015, US-101 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Pacifica: 4.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Pacifica?
June has the most truck crashes in San Mateo County, 10.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Pacifica?
Since 2015, San Mateo County has reported 40 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.0% of its truck crashes.
How does Pacifica compare with California for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, San Mateo County has 15.7 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Pacifica?
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.