ZIP 92078 (San Marcos, CA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 92078: 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 stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for San Diego County: 1 in 36 garbage-truck share of crashes is 2.8%, against 1.6% for California.
Overview
Police reported 6,646 crashes involving commercial trucks in San Diego County since 2015: 3,402 people were injured and 235 were killed.
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.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 7.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Where crashes happen
I-15 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 92078 with 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-5 (6), SR-78 (4) and Buena Creek Rd (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 92078 fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-15, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in July; review collection routes for that month.
- Morning starts matter: 26.3% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than California.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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) |
|---|---|
| I-15 | 8 |
| I-5 | 6 |
| SR-78 | 4 |
| Buena Creek Rd | 1 |
| Del Dios Hwy | 1 |
| El Norte Pkwy | 1 |
| Gopher Cnyn Rd | 1 |
| Harmony Grove Rd | 1 |
| N Melrose Dr | 1 |
| Rose St | 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 92078 at a glance
| Population | 53,605 |
| Density | 1,239 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $120,268 |
| Median home value | $929,191 |
| Home ownership | 72% |
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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 13.5 a year in 2016–19, 19.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 92078
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 92078?
6,646 truck crashes have been reported in San Diego County since 2015, with 235 deaths and 3,402 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 92078?
NHTSA data shows I-15 with 8 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 92078 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 92078?
March has the most truck crashes in San Diego County, 8.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 92078?
Since 2015, San Diego County has reported 181 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.7% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 92078 compare with California?
San Diego County records 17.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 92078?
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.