San Carlos, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in San Carlos: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in San Carlos 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).
The headline for San Mateo County: 1 in 32 garbage-truck share of crashes is 3.1%, against 1.6% for 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.
San Carlos had 43 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
The worst month is June with 10.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 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.
0.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.9% across California.
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), 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).
They recorded 7.5 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for San Carlos fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in San Mateo County.
- 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.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 | 7 |
| SR-84 | 2 |
| Broadway St | 1 |
| California Dr | 1 |
| Canada Rd | 1 |
| Crestview Dr | 1 |
| Floribunda Ave | 1 |
| I-280 | 1 |
| Pulgas Av | 1 |
| SR-82 | 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 |
San Carlos at a glance
| Population | 29,403 |
| Land area | 5.4 sq mi |
| Density | 5,433 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 94070) | $240,074 |
| Median home value (ZIP 94070) | $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 |
In the 2000s about 77 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 102. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 3.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about San Carlos
How many truck accidents are there in San Carlos?
Since 2015, 1,319 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in San Mateo County (630 injured, 36 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in San Carlos?
NHTSA data shows US-101 with 7 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of San Carlos since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in San Carlos?
The worst month is June: 10.8% of truck crashes in San Mateo County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in San Carlos?
Garbage trucks were involved in 40 reported crashes in San Mateo County since 2015 (3.0% of truck crashes).
How does San Carlos 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 San Carlos?
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.