San Mateo, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in San Mateo: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in San Mateo 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 |
Compared with California, San Mateo County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for 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.
San Mateo had 192 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.
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
Within this area, US-101 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (12). It is followed by I-880 (11), SR-1 (3) and SR-84 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 40 crashes, 3.0% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Their busiest month is September, with 18% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 7.5 deaths compared with 2.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for San Mateo fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-101 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at September schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 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
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 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 12 |
| I-880 | 11 |
| SR-1 | 3 |
| SR-84 | 3 |
| SR-92 | 3 |
| 28th St | 1 |
| Broadway St | 1 |
| California Dr | 1 |
| Callan Bl | 1 |
| Canada Rd | 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 Mateo at a glance
| Population | 103,006 |
| Land area | 12.1 sq mi |
| Density | 8,489 per sq mi |
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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about San Mateo
How common are truck crashes in San Mateo?
San Mateo County has had 1,319 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 630 people and killing 36.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in San Mateo?
Since 2015, US-101 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of San Mateo: 12.
Which month has the most truck crashes in San Mateo?
June has the most truck crashes in San Mateo County, 10.8% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in San Mateo?
Since 2015, San Mateo County has reported 40 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.0% of its truck crashes.
How does San Mateo compare with California for truck crashes?
San Mateo County records 15.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in San Mateo?
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.