ZIP 21286 (Towson, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 21286: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Baltimore 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
2.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Baltimore County compares with Maryland
Baltimore County against Maryland and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Baltimore County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Baltimore County | Maryland | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 56.6 | 49.3 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 23% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.53 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 15% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.3% | 2.4% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.0% | 24.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 13.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.3% | 40.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Baltimore County has lower values than Maryland for deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr.
What stands out in ZIP 21286: US-40 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 21286: 8 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 5,591 crashes involving commercial trucks in Baltimore County since 2015: 2,751 people were injured and 93 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 9.7% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (7.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.3% of truck crashes, vs 40.4% for Maryland.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 6.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.3% of truck crashes, compared with 2.4% in Maryland.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-40 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (8). Next come I-95 (6), I-695 (4) and I-83 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 144 crashes, 2.6% of the total, against 3.1% across Maryland.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in July (12% of them).
They recorded 2.9 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 21286 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Baltimore County.
- Look at alternatives to US-40 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at July schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Baltimore County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-40 | 8 |
| I-95 | 6 |
| I-695 | 4 |
| I-83 | 4 |
| Mu-1370 | 2 |
| SR-151 | 2 |
| SR-7 | 2 |
| US-1 | 2 |
| CR-3739 | 1 |
| CR-415 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Baltimore County) |
|---|---|
| Balto Beltway | 1,036 |
| J F K Memorial Hwy | 437 |
| No Name | 296 |
| Harrisburg Expwy | 284 |
| Balto Beltway (Inner Loop) | 277 |
| Pulaski Hwy | 130 |
| Acrs Marked Off Road | 78 |
| North Point Blvd | 70 |
ZIP 21286 at a glance
| Population | 21,853 |
| Density | 982 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $93,808 |
| Median home value | $434,850 |
| Home ownership | 60% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Baltimore 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 | 232 | — | 5.8 |
| 2000s | 294 | +27% | 6.6 |
| 2010s | 364 | +24% | 6.2 |
| 2020s | 523 | +44% | 6.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 232 a year in the 1990s and 523 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 7.8 a year in 2016–19 and 6.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 21286
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 21286?
Baltimore County has had 5,591 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,751 people and killing 93.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 21286?
Since 2015, US-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 21286: 8.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 21286?
The worst month is October: 9.7% of truck crashes in Baltimore County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 21286?
144 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Baltimore County since 2015, 2.6% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 21286 compare with Maryland for truck crashes?
Baltimore County records 56.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 49.3 across Maryland.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 21286?
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.