Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz County, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz County and Santa Cruz County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Santa Cruz County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Santa Cruz County compares with California
Santa Cruz County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Santa Cruz County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Santa Cruz County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 17.0 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 49% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 8% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.5% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 2.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 78% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.9% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.3% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.3% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.1% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 41% below the state |
Compared with California, Santa Cruz County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above California on garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Santa Cruz County: 1 in 22 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.5%, vs 1.6% in California.
Overview
Since 2015, 513 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Santa Cruz County. They injured 175 people and killed 16.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz County since 2015, this page uses Santa Cruz County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 6.8%.
November through March accounts for 39.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (8.4%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.2% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-1 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). Next come CR-E Cliff Dr (1), Encinal St (1) and River St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 22 crashes, 4.3% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in April (18% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 4.5, vs 3.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz County fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Santa Cruz County.
- Look at alternatives to SR-1 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in April; review collection routes for that month.
- 28.9% 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 Santa Cruz County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-1 | 2 |
| CR-E Cliff Dr | 1 |
| Encinal St | 1 |
| River St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Santa Cruz County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-1 S/B | 8 |
| Sr-1 N/B | 4 |
| Sr-17 S/B | 3 |
| SR-129 | 3 |
| Rt129/1.3M W Old Chittenden Rd | 3 |
| Freedom Blvd | 3 |
| Alba Rd/.13Mi W Of Rt19 | 2 |
| Main St/Green Valley Rd | 2 |
Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz County at a glance
| Land area | 0.7 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 95062) | $112,106 |
| Median home value (ZIP 95062) | $1,074,392 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Santa Cruz 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 | — | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 41 | — | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 43 | +4% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 42 | -1% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 41 a year in the 2000s and 42 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz County
How many truck crashes happen in Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz County?
513 truck crashes have been reported in Santa Cruz County since 2015, with 16 deaths and 175 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz County?
Since 2015, SR-1 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Twin Lakes: 2.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz County?
September has the most truck crashes in Santa Cruz County, 10.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz County?
Since 2015, Santa Cruz County has reported 22 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.3% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz County compared with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Santa Cruz County has 17.0 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz County?
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.