ZIP 20814 (Bethesda, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 20814: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Montgomery County, 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
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 |
Montgomery County sits below Maryland on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
ZIP 20814 at a glance: 1.8× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of ZIP 20814 (3.2 → 5.8).
Overview
Montgomery County has recorded 3,957 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,079 people injured and 38 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
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.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Maryland: 2.4%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-495 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (10). After it: I-95 (6), SR-190 (3) and SR-193 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 190 of the truck crashes here, or 4.8%, compared with 3.1% in Maryland.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in September (12%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.2 deaths compared with 1.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 20814 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.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at September schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Montgomery County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-495 | 10 |
| I-95 | 6 |
| SR-190 | 3 |
| SR-193 | 2 |
| SR-200 | 2 |
| SR-410 | 2 |
| 21st St Nw | 1 |
| 7th St Nw | 1 |
| Bladensburg Rd Ne | 1 |
| CR-124 Arcola Ave | 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 |
ZIP 20814 at a glance
| Population | 32,795 |
| Density | 2,840 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $150,996 |
| Median home value | $992,593 |
| Home ownership | 51% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 177 a year in the 1990s and 354 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 20814
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 20814?
Montgomery County has had 3,957 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,079 people and killing 38.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 20814?
NHTSA data shows I-495 with 10 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 20814 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 20814?
Truck crashes in Montgomery County peak in December, with 9.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 20814?
Since 2015, Montgomery County has reported 190 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 20814 compared with Maryland?
Per 100,000 residents, Montgomery County has 31.8 truck crashes a year; Maryland has 49.3.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 20814?
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.