ZIP 21045 (Columbia, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 21045: 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 |
Compared with Maryland, Howard County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark.
ZIP 21045 at a glance: I-95 deadliest road: 16 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 21045 since 2015.
Overview
Howard County has recorded 2,423 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,016 people injured and 49 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 9.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.7% of truck crashes, vs 40.4% for 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
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 21045 is I-95, with 16 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come US-1 (7), SR-32 (4) and I-695 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 53 crashes, 2.2% of the total, against 3.1% across Maryland.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (13%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 21045 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-95, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Howard 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 Howard County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 16 |
| US-1 | 7 |
| SR-32 | 4 |
| I-695 | 3 |
| I-70 | 3 |
| SR-100 | 2 |
| US-29 | 2 |
| CR-1140 | 1 |
| CR-121 | 1 |
| CR-1312 | 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 21045 at a glance
| Population | 40,034 |
| Density | 1,594 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $118,563 |
| Median home value | $455,400 |
| Home ownership | 68% |
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 21045
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 21045?
Howard County has had 2,423 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,016 people and killing 49.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 21045?
NHTSA data shows I-95 with 16 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 21045 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 21045?
The worst month is October: 9.9% of truck crashes in Howard County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 21045?
Since 2015, Howard County has reported 53 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.2% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 21045 compared with Maryland?
The yearly rate is 61.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Howard County, vs 49.3 for Maryland.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 21045?
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.