University of California-Santa Barbara, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in University of California-Santa Barbara: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in University of California-Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Santa Barbara County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 4.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Santa Barbara County compares with California
Santa Barbara County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Santa Barbara County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Santa Barbara County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 23.6 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 29% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.4% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.5% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 44% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.5% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.5% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 15% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.4% | 40.2% | 41.9% | 7% below the state |
| After dark | 23.8% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Compared with California, Santa Barbara County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
University of California-Santa Barbara at a glance: US-101 deadliest road: 5 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of University of California-Santa Barbara since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,199 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Santa Barbara County. They injured 461 people and killed 47.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in University of California-Santa Barbara since 2015, this page uses Santa Barbara County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 10.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is January at 7.0%.
November through March accounts for 37.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Where crashes happen
US-101 leads within 10 miles of University of California-Santa Barbara with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by State St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 29 crashes, 2.4% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Their busiest month is January, with 17% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 4.1 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for University of California-Santa Barbara fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Santa Barbara County.
- 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 January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 27.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than California.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Santa Barbara County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 5 |
| State St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Santa Barbara County) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 18 |
| Us-101 N/B | 8 |
| Rt166/.37M E Alisos Canyon Rd | 5 |
| Sr1/.2M S California Bl | 3 |
| Rt154/Rt246 | 3 |
| Rt101/.2M N El Capitan State Beach Rd | 3 |
| Rt101 Nb O/R/70Ft S Nicholson Av | 3 |
| Rt1/2865Ft S Rt246 | 3 |
University of California-Santa Barbara at a glance
| Land area | 1.3 sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Santa Barbara 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 | — | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 70 | — | 3.7 |
| 2010s | 95 | +36% | 3.3 |
| 2020s | 106 | +12% | 2.6 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 70 to 106. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.2 a year in 2016–19, 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about University of California-Santa Barbara
How many truck crashes happen in University of California-Santa Barbara?
1,199 truck crashes have been reported in Santa Barbara County since 2015, with 47 deaths and 461 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in University of California-Santa Barbara?
NHTSA data shows US-101 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of University of California-Santa Barbara since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in University of California-Santa Barbara?
October has the most truck crashes in Santa Barbara County, 10.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in University of California-Santa Barbara?
Since 2015, Santa Barbara County has reported 29 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.4% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in University of California-Santa Barbara compared with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Santa Barbara County has 23.6 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in University of California-Santa Barbara?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.