ZIP 21042 (Ellicott City, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 21042: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Howard 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Howard County compares with Maryland
Howard County against Maryland and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Howard County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Howard County | Maryland | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 61.9 | 49.3 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 9% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.53 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 28% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.5% | 2.4% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.0% | 24.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.5% | 13.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.7% | 40.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.3% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Howard County has lower values than Maryland for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark.
What stands out in ZIP 21042: I-95 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 21042: 9 since 2015.
Overview
Howard County has recorded 2,423 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,016 people injured and 49 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 9.9% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.5%).
November through March accounts for 40.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.4% in Maryland.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 7.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.5% of truck crashes, compared with 2.4% in Maryland.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-95 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (9). It is followed by I-70 (7), SR-32 (5) and SR-26 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 53 crashes, 2.2% of the total, against 3.1% across Maryland.
Their busiest month is May, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 21042 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Howard County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-95; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Howard County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Howard County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 9 |
| I-70 | 7 |
| SR-32 | 5 |
| SR-26 | 3 |
| I-695 | 2 |
| US-1 | 2 |
| US-29 | 2 |
| CR-1140 | 1 |
| CR-1312 | 1 |
| CR-1910 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Howard County) |
|---|---|
| No Name | 1,054 |
| Washington Blvd | 175 |
| Columbia Pike | 61 |
| Sykesville Rd | 53 |
| Patuxent Pkwy | 53 |
| Waterloo Rd | 52 |
| Acrs Marked Off Road | 42 |
| Is95 | 28 |
ZIP 21042 at a glance
| Population | 43,327 |
| Density | 452 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $190,061 |
| Median home value | $709,720 |
| Home ownership | 85% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Howard 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 | 104 | — | 3.6 |
| 2000s | 116 | +12% | 3.5 |
| 2010s | 174 | +50% | 3.1 |
| 2020s | 219 | +26% | 4.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 104 a year in the 1990s and 219 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.5 a year in 2016–19, 4.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 21042
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 21042?
2,423 truck crashes have been reported in Howard County since 2015, with 49 deaths and 1,016 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 21042?
I-95 had 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 21042 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 21042?
October has the most truck crashes in Howard County, 9.9% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 21042?
Garbage trucks were involved in 53 reported crashes in Howard County since 2015 (2.2% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 21042 compared with Maryland?
Howard County records 61.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 49.3 across Maryland.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 21042?
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.