ZIP 20851 (Rockville, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 20851: 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 |
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.
What stands out in Montgomery County: 1 in 21 crashes involve a garbage truck (190 since 2015), vs 3.1% across Maryland.
Overview
Since 2015, 3,957 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Montgomery County. They injured 2,079 people and killed 38.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (9.6% of the year) and are lowest in February (6.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.1% of truck crashes, against 40.4% across Maryland.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.9% of truck crashes, compared with 2.4% in Maryland.
Where crashes happen
I-495 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 20851 with 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-270 (3), SR-190 (3) and I-95 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 190 crashes, 4.8% of the total, against 3.1% across Maryland.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in September (12% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.2 deaths compared with 1.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 20851 fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Montgomery County.
- Check whether your routes use I-495, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: September is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Montgomery County.
- 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 | 9 |
| I-270 | 3 |
| SR-190 | 3 |
| I-95 | 2 |
| SR-193 | 2 |
| SR-200 | 2 |
| Ashbury Dr | 1 |
| CR-124 Arcola Ave | 1 |
| CR-212 Shady Grove Rd | 1 |
| CR-3283 | 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 20851 at a glance
| Population | 14,946 |
| Density | 2,276 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $126,411 |
| Median home value | $560,943 |
| Home ownership | 58% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 177 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 354. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 20851
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 20851?
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 20851?
Since 2015, I-495 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 20851: 9.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 20851?
December has the most truck crashes in Montgomery County, 9.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 20851?
190 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Montgomery County since 2015, 4.8% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 20851 compare with Maryland for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Montgomery County has 31.8 truck crashes a year; Maryland has 49.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 20851?
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.