Somerset, MD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Somerset: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Somerset and Montgomery County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Montgomery County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Montgomery County compares with Maryland
Montgomery County against Maryland and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Montgomery County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Montgomery County | Maryland | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 31.8 | 49.3 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.0 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 55% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.53 | 0.53 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.8% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 2.4% | 6.2% | 19% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 24.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.9% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.1% | 40.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Maryland, Montgomery County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Maryland on garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Montgomery County: 1 in 21 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.8%, vs 3.1% in Maryland.
Overview
Montgomery County has recorded 3,957 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,079 people injured and 38 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
Somerset had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Montgomery County numbers.
87% of truck crash reports in Montgomery County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 9.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 6.8%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.1% of truck crashes, vs 40.4% for Maryland.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
1.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 2.4% across Maryland.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Somerset is I-495, with 12 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-95 (5), I-66 (3) and SR-190 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
190 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.8% share (Maryland: 3.1%).
Their busiest month is September, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 2.2 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Somerset fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-495, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Montgomery County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-495 | 12 |
| I-95 | 5 |
| I-66 | 3 |
| SR-190 | 2 |
| SR-193 | 2 |
| SR-201 | 2 |
| SR-410 | 2 |
| US-29 | 2 |
| 21st St Nw | 1 |
| 7th St Nw | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Montgomery County) |
|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 851 |
| Eisenhower Memorial Hwy | 456 |
| Georgia Ave | 92 |
| Shady Grove Rd | 83 |
| Frederick Rd | 82 |
| Acrs Marked Off Road | 75 |
| New Hampshire Ave | 72 |
| Rockville Pike | 55 |
Somerset at a glance
| Population | 1,203 |
| Land area | 0.3 sq mi |
| Density | 4,359 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Montgomery 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 | 177 | — | 3.7 |
| 2000s | 206 | +17% | 3.6 |
| 2010s | 262 | +27% | 2.6 |
| 2020s | 354 | +35% | 3.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 177 to 354. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Somerset
How many truck accidents are there in Somerset?
Since 2015, 3,957 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Montgomery County (2,079 injured, 38 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Somerset?
NHTSA data shows I-495 with 12 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Somerset since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Somerset?
December has the most truck crashes in Montgomery County, 9.6% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Somerset?
190 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Montgomery County since 2015, 4.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Somerset compare with Maryland?
Montgomery County records 31.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 49.3 across Maryland.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Somerset?
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.