ZIP 91978 (Spring Valley, CA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 91978: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in San Diego 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
2.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How San Diego County compares with California
San Diego County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where San Diego County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | San Diego County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 17.6 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 47% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.3% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 70% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.4% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.8% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.0% | 29.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with California, San Diego County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in San Diego County: 1 in 36 crashes involve a garbage truck (181 since 2015), vs 1.6% across California.
Overview
Since 2015, 6,646 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in San Diego County. They injured 3,402 people and killed 235.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 2 truck crashes a day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (8.8% of the year) and are lowest in November (7.8%).
November through March accounts for 41.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 7.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.3% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
Otay Mesa Rd leads within 10 miles of ZIP 91978 with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-805 (2), SR-54 (2) and Dehesa Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
181 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.7% share (California: 1.6%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in July (12%).
They recorded 2.8 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 91978 fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use Otay Mesa Rd, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in July; review collection routes for that month.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.3% of truck crashes here, more than California; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 San Diego County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| Otay Mesa Rd | 4 |
| I-805 | 2 |
| SR-54 | 2 |
| Dehesa Rd | 1 |
| Eastlake Pkwy | 1 |
| Greenfield Dr | 1 |
| I-8 | 1 |
| La Media Rd | 1 |
| Leucadia Blvd | 1 |
| Los Coches Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (San Diego County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 33 |
| I-805 | 29 |
| I-15 | 28 |
| SR-15 | 10 |
| I-8 | 9 |
| SR-78 | 7 |
| Sr-78 E/B | 7 |
| SR-52 | 5 |
ZIP 91978 at a glance
| Population | 10,014 |
| Density | 324 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $113,170 |
| Median home value | $615,492 |
| Home ownership | 68% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in San Diego 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 | 2 | — | 14.4 |
| 2000s | 411 | +20465% | 16.2 |
| 2010s | 514 | +25% | 12.4 |
| 2020s | 570 | +11% | 19.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 570 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 13.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 19.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 91978
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 91978?
Since 2015, 6,646 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in San Diego County (3,402 injured, 235 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 91978?
Since 2015, Otay Mesa Rd has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 91978: 4.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 91978?
Truck crashes in San Diego County peak in March, with 8.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 91978?
Garbage trucks were involved in 181 reported crashes in San Diego County since 2015 (2.7% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 91978 compare with California?
The yearly rate is 17.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in San Diego County, vs 33.2 for California.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 91978?
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.