Portola Valley, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Portola Valley: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Portola Valley 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. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in San Mateo County: 1 in 32 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 3.1%, vs 1.6% in California.
Overview
San Mateo County has recorded 1,319 truck crashes since 2015, with 630 people injured and 36 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
With 1 truck crash reported in Portola Valley 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%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.0% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out 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 (7). Next come SR-84 (2), Black Mountain Rd (1) and Broadway St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 40 of the truck crashes here, or 3.0%, compared with 1.6% in California.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in September (18%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 7.5, vs 2.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Portola Valley fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-101, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.0% of truck crashes here, more than California; adjust start times where you can.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 | 7 |
| SR-84 | 2 |
| Black Mountain Rd | 1 |
| Broadway St | 1 |
| Canada Rd | 1 |
| Crestview Dr | 1 |
| Grant Rd | 1 |
| I-280 | 1 |
| Pulgas Av | 1 |
| SR-1 | 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 |
Portola Valley at a glance
| Population | 4,282 |
| Land area | 9.1 sq mi |
| Density | 471 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 94028) | $250,001 |
| Median home value (ZIP 94028) | $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 |
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 Portola Valley
How common are truck crashes in Portola Valley?
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 Portola Valley?
NHTSA data shows US-101 with 7 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Portola Valley since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Portola Valley?
The worst month is June: 10.8% of truck crashes in San Mateo County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Portola Valley?
40 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in San Mateo County since 2015, 3.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Portola Valley compared with California?
Per 100,000 residents, San Mateo County has 15.7 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Portola Valley?
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.