ZIP 20899 (Gaithersburg, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 20899: 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. Where it is higher: 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
Police reported 3,957 crashes involving commercial trucks in Montgomery County since 2015: 2,079 people were injured and 38 were killed.
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%).
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.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.9% of truck crashes, compared with 2.4% in Maryland.
Where crashes happen
I-270 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 20899 with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-355 (2), Ashbury Dr (1) and CR-212 Shady Grove Rd (1).
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).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.2, vs 1.0 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 20899 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-270; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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-270 | 4 |
| SR-355 | 2 |
| Ashbury Dr | 1 |
| CR-212 Shady Grove Rd | 1 |
| CR-3283 | 1 |
| CR-4139 Wightman Rd | 1 |
| I-97 | 1 |
| Mu-140 | 1 |
| SR-190 | 1 |
| SR-200 | 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 20899 at a glance
| Population | 57 |
| Density | 208 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $24,417 |
| 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 20899
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 20899?
Montgomery County has had 3,957 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,079 people and killing 38.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 20899?
I-270 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 20899 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 20899?
The worst month is December: 9.6% of truck crashes in Montgomery County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 20899?
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 ZIP 20899 compare with Maryland?
The yearly rate is 31.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Montgomery County, vs 49.3 for Maryland.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 20899?
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.