ZIP 21217 (Baltimore, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 21217: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Baltimore city, 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
4.6 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Baltimore city compares with Maryland
Baltimore city against Maryland and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Baltimore city stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Baltimore city | Maryland | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 44.2 | 49.3 | 49.7 | 10% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.86 | 0.53 | 0.49 | 1.6× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.9% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.6% | 2.4% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 24.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.2% | 13.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.7% | 40.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.6% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Maryland, Baltimore city is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Baltimore city: +173% change in yearly reported truck crashes from the 2000s (75) to the 2010s (204).
Overview
Since 2015, 2,912 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Baltimore city. They injured 2,436 people and killed 66.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 9.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 7.1%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.7% of truck crashes, against 40.4% across Maryland.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.9% of truck crashes.
2.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 2.4% across Maryland.
Where crashes happen
I-95 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 21217 with 13 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-695 (9), US-40 (6) and US-1 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 111 crashes, 3.8% of the total, against 3.1% across Maryland.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in July (12% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 4.6, vs 2.4 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 21217 fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Baltimore city.
- Check whether your routes use I-95, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in July; review collection routes for that month.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 2.6% of truck crashes here, more than Maryland; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Baltimore city
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 13 |
| I-695 | 9 |
| US-40 | 6 |
| US-1 | 4 |
| I-83 | 3 |
| SR-26 | 3 |
| I-70 | 2 |
| Mu-1370 | 2 |
| SR-151 | 2 |
| SR-7 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Baltimore city) |
|---|---|
| Fort Mchenry Tunnel | 479 |
| Harbor Tunnel Thruway | 50 |
| Acrs Marked Off Road | 44 |
| Balto Beltway | 36 |
| Is 95 - Fort Mchenry Tunnel | 31 |
| E Monument St | 25 |
| Reisterstown Rd | 25 |
| Pulaski Hwy | 24 |
ZIP 21217 at a glance
| Population | 30,792 |
| Density | 5,608 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $38,409 |
| Median home value | $170,119 |
| Home ownership | 30% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Baltimore city 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 | 31 | — | 4.3 |
| 2000s | 61 | +96% | 4.4 |
| 2010s | 204 | +233% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 274 | +34% | 3.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 31 to 274. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 2.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 21217
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 21217?
2,912 truck crashes have been reported in Baltimore city since 2015, with 66 deaths and 2,436 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 21217?
NHTSA data shows I-95 with 13 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 21217 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 21217?
Truck crashes in Baltimore city peak in December, with 9.5% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 21217?
Garbage trucks were involved in 111 reported crashes in Baltimore city since 2015 (3.8% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 21217 compare with Maryland?
Baltimore city records 44.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 49.3 across Maryland.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 21217?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.