Hawaii truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Hawaii: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 6.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Hawaii compares with United States
Hawaii against United States, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hawaii stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hawaii | United States | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 7.3 | 49.7 | 85% below the US |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.2 | 3.4 | 1.8× the US |
| Injuries per crash | 0.70 | 0.49 | 1.4× the US |
| Garbage-truck share | 7.9% | 2.3% | 3.4× the US |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 6.2% | 100% below the US |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.0% | 23.7% | 1.3× the US |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.1% | 13.8% | 12% below the US |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.1% | 24.8% | 19% below the US |
Hawaii has lower values than the US for crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above the US on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Hawaii: 1 in 13 crashes involve a garbage truck (96 since 2015), vs 2.3% across the US.
Overview
Police reported 1,229 crashes involving commercial trucks in Hawaii since 2015: 852 people were injured and 74 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 10.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 7.2%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.3% of truck crashes, against 41.9% across the US.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (9.5%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.0% of truck crashes, compared with 6.2% in the US.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-19 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (8). It is followed by SR-11 (4), I-H1 (3) and SR-190 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
96 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 7.8% share (the US: 2.3%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in February (14% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 4.3 deaths compared with 6.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Hawaii fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-19; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in February; review collection routes for that month.
- Morning starts matter: 30.0% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than the US.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Hawaii
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Hawaii) |
|---|---|
| SR-19 | 8 |
| SR-11 | 4 |
| I-H1 | 3 |
| SR-190 | 3 |
| SR-200 | 2 |
| SR-56 | 2 |
| SR-83 | 2 |
| CR-2000 Puainako St | 1 |
| CR-BENNION Drive | 1 |
| CR-ELLIOTT Street | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hawaii) |
|---|---|
| Kalaeloa Blvd / Kapolei Pkwy | 3 |
| Keolu Dr / 34' E Of Kalanianaole Hwy | 2 |
| Kapaa Quarry Pl / 20' Ne Of H-3 Overpass | 2 |
| Kalaeloa Blvd / 50' N Of Kauhi St | 2 |
| Kalaeloa Blvd / Kauhi St Intersection | 2 |
| Honoapiilani Hwy / .3 Miles N Of Olowalu Dump Rd | 2 |
| Hanua Street / 250' North If Kauhi Street | 2 |
| Hanua St / Kuhele St Intersection | 2 |
Hawaii at a glance
| Population | 1,446,146 |
| Land area | 6,422.6 sq mi |
| Density | 225 per sq mi |
Historical data: truck crashes in Hawaii 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 | 76 | — | 5.3 |
| 2000s | 111 | +46% | 4.6 |
| 2010s | 96 | -14% | 5.0 |
| 2020s | 108 | +12% | 5.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 76 a year in the 1990s and 108 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 5.2 a year in 2016–19 and 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Counties in Hawaii
Largest places in Hawaii
Nearby states
Questions fleets ask about Hawaii
How many truck accidents are there in Hawaii?
Hawaii has had 1,229 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 852 people and killing 74.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Hawaii?
Since 2015, SR-19 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Hawaii: 8.
When do most truck crashes happen in Hawaii?
Truck crashes in Hawaii peak in September, with 10.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Hawaii?
96 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Hawaii since 2015, 7.8% of all truck crashes.
How does Hawaii compare with the US for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 7.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Hawaii, vs 49.7 for the US.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Hawaii?
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.