ZIP 20889 (Bethesda, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 20889: 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. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in ZIP 20889: 1.8× yearly fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 20889: 3.8 in 2016–19, 6.6 in 2020–24.
Overview
Montgomery County has recorded 3,957 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,079 people injured and 38 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 9.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 6.8%.
November through March accounts for 40.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.4% in Maryland.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out 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
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 20889 since 2015: I-495 (9), I-95 (9), SR-190 (3), SR-193 (2) and SR-410 (2). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 190 crashes, 4.8% of the total, against 3.1% across Maryland.
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 ZIP 20889 fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Montgomery County.
- Waste haulers: September is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Montgomery County.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
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-95 | 9 |
| SR-190 | 3 |
| SR-193 | 2 |
| SR-410 | 2 |
| 21st St Nw | 1 |
| 7th St Nw | 1 |
| Bladensburg Rd Ne | 1 |
| CR-124 Arcola Ave | 1 |
| CR-212 Shady Grove Rd | 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 20889 at a glance
| Population | 584 |
| Density | 579 per sq mi |
| Home ownership | 0% |
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. 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 20889
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 20889?
3,957 truck crashes have been reported in Montgomery County since 2015, with 38 deaths and 2,079 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 20889?
Truck crashes in Montgomery County peak in December, with 9.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 20889?
190 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Montgomery County since 2015, 4.8% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 20889 compared with Maryland?
Montgomery County records 31.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 49.3 across Maryland.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 20889?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.