ZIP 21783 (Smithsburg, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 21783: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Washington 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
19 of 1,894 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Washington County compares with Maryland
Washington County against Maryland and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washington County | Maryland | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 103.7 | 49.3 | 49.7 | 2.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.53 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 65% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.2% | 2.4% | 6.2% | 10% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 17.8% | 24.7% | 23.7% | 28% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.1% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.8% | 40.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 30.2% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Washington County has lower values than Maryland for injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Maryland on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Washington County: 1 in 94 garbage-truck share of crashes is 1.1%, against 3.1% for Maryland.
Overview
Police reported 1,894 crashes involving commercial trucks in Washington County since 2015: 861 people were injured and 53 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 9.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 6.8%.
November through March accounts for 39.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.4% in Maryland.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (7.3%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.2% of truck crashes, compared with 2.4% in Maryland.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-70 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (9). Next come US-15 (4), CR-123 (2) and SR-77 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 19 of the truck crashes here, or 1.0%, compared with 3.1% in Maryland.
Route planning tips for ZIP 21783 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-70 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Washington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 9 |
| US-15 | 4 |
| CR-123 | 2 |
| SR-77 | 2 |
| CR-16 | 1 |
| SR-16 | 1 |
| SR-2004 | 1 |
| SR-316 | 1 |
| SR-491 | 1 |
| US-40 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washington County) |
|---|---|
| Eisenhower Memorial Hwy | 519 |
| Maryland Veterans Memorial Hwy | 384 |
| National Freeway | 59 |
| Halfway Blvd | 52 |
| Acrs Marked Off Road | 41 |
| Greencastle Pike | 30 |
| Hopewell Rd | 25 |
| National Pike | 23 |
ZIP 21783 at a glance
| Population | 9,910 |
| Density | 80 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $100,750 |
| Median home value | $339,535 |
| Home ownership | 82% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Washington 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 | 69 | — | 2.1 |
| 2000s | 78 | +12% | 2.5 |
| 2010s | 117 | +50% | 2.8 |
| 2020s | 180 | +54% | 3.0 |
In the 1990s about 69 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 180. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.5 a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 21783
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 21783?
Since 2015, 1,894 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Washington County (861 injured, 53 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 21783?
NHTSA data shows I-70 with 9 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 21783 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 21783?
The worst month is December: 9.8% of truck crashes in Washington County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 21783?
Garbage trucks were involved in 19 reported crashes in Washington County since 2015 (1.0% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 21783 compare with Maryland for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 103.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Washington County, vs 49.3 for Maryland.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 21783?
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.