ZIP 20901 (Silver Spring, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 20901: 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 has lower values than Maryland for 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
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
The worst month is December with 9.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 6.8%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.1% of truck crashes, against 40.4% across Maryland.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.4% of truck crashes.
1.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 2.4% across Maryland.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-95 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (17). After it: I-495 (7), US-50 (3) and SR-190 (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%).
They recorded 2.2 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 20901 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-95 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- 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-95 | 17 |
| I-495 | 7 |
| US-50 | 3 |
| SR-190 | 2 |
| SR-193 | 2 |
| SR-201 | 2 |
| SR-410 | 2 |
| US-1 | 2 |
| 21st St Nw | 1 |
| 7th St Nw | 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 20901 at a glance
| Population | 36,435 |
| Density | 2,630 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $131,386 |
| Median home value | $589,011 |
| Home ownership | 68% |
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 large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 20901
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 20901?
3,957 truck crashes have been reported in Montgomery County since 2015, with 38 deaths and 2,079 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 20901?
Since 2015, I-95 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 20901: 17.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 20901?
The worst month is December: 9.6% of truck crashes in Montgomery County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 20901?
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 20901 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 20901?
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.