Birch Bay, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Birch Bay: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Birch Bay and Whatcom County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Whatcom County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
13 of 550 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Whatcom County compares with Washington
Whatcom County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Whatcom County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Whatcom County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 20.0 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 22% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 9% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.13 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 28% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.1% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 17% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.3% | 24.8% | 23.7% | 18% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.2% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.1% | 43.8% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 24.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Whatcom County has lower values than Washington for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Whatcom County: January 10.2% of truck crashes happen in January, more than any other month.
Overview
Whatcom County has recorded 550 truck crashes since 2015, with 73 people injured and 16 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Birch Bay since 2015; patterns below come from Whatcom County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (10.2% of the year) and are lowest in February (4.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.1% of truck crashes, vs 43.8% for Washington.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (7.6%).
Road surface: 8.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Washington: 9.7%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Birch Bay happened on SR-543 (2), CR-SLATER Rd (1) and SR-548 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 13 of the truck crashes here, or 2.4%, compared with 2.2% in Washington.
Route planning tips for Birch Bay fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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 Whatcom County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-543 | 2 |
| CR-SLATER Rd | 1 |
| SR-548 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Whatcom County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-539*003.50 | 3 |
| Sr-539*008.57 | 3 |
| Sr-546*003.00 | 3 |
| Sr-9*086.00 | 3 |
| E Sunset Dr Blk 1800 | 2 |
| Everson Goshen Rd Blk 6200 | 2 |
| Everson Goshen Rd/E Smith Rd | 2 |
| Everson Goshen Road/Central Road | 2 |
Birch Bay at a glance
| Land area | 17.1 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 98230) | $86,623 |
| Median home value (ZIP 98230) | $500,748 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Whatcom 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 | 27 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 40 | +44% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 44 | +11% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 48 | +8% | 1.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 27 to 48. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Birch Bay
How common are truck crashes in Birch Bay?
550 truck crashes have been reported in Whatcom County since 2015, with 16 deaths and 73 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Birch Bay?
The worst month is January: 10.2% of truck crashes in Whatcom County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Birch Bay?
13 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Whatcom County since 2015, 2.4% of all truck crashes.
How does Birch Bay compare with Washington for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 20.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Whatcom County, vs 25.8 for Washington.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Birch Bay?
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.