ZIP 92021 (El Cajon, CA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 92021: 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 |
San Diego County has lower values than California for crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above California on 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
San Diego County has recorded 6,646 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,402 people injured and 235 killed.
That averages about 2 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 8.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 7.8%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.8% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across 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
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 92021 is I-8, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-67 (3), Dehesa Rd (1) and Greenfield Dr (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
181 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.7% share (California: 1.6%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in July (12% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.8, vs 3.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 92021 fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-8, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: July is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in San Diego County.
- 26.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above California; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 San Diego County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-8 | 6 |
| SR-67 | 3 |
| Dehesa Rd | 1 |
| Greenfield Dr | 1 |
| Los Coches Rd | 1 |
| North Woodside Ave | 1 |
| SR-125 | 1 |
| SR-52 | 1 |
| SR-54 | 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 92021 at a glance
| Population | 70,501 |
| Density | 971 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $74,013 |
| Median home value | $575,783 |
| Home ownership | 54% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 2 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 570. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. 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 92021
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 92021?
San Diego County has had 6,646 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 3,402 people and killing 235.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 92021?
NHTSA data shows I-8 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 92021 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 92021?
The worst month is March: 8.8% of truck crashes in San Diego County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 92021?
181 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in San Diego County since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 92021 compare with California?
San Diego County records 17.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 92021?
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.