ZIP 94945 (Novato, CA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 94945: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Marin 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
21 of 487 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Marin County compares with California
Marin County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Marin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Marin County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 16.3 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 51% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 16% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 2.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 54% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 31.7% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.7% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.4% | 40.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 16.3% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 44% below the state |
Compared with California, Marin County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Marin County: 1 in 24 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.1%, against 1.6% for California.
Overview
Since 2015, 487 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Marin County. They injured 182 people and killed 20.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
When crashes happen
May has the most truck crashes, 10.1% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.7%).
November through March accounts for 43.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 11.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.4% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-116 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). It is followed by US-101 (3), SR-37 (2) and CR-ADOBE Road (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
21 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.3% share (California: 1.6%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in December (19%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 94945 fleets
- Build extra time into May routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to SR-116 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: December is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Marin County.
- Morning starts matter: 31.7% 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 Marin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-116 | 5 |
| US-101 | 3 |
| SR-37 | 2 |
| CR-ADOBE Road | 1 |
| CR-LAKEVILLE Road | 1 |
| CR-LUCAS Vly Rd | 1 |
| CR-OLD Adobe Rd | 1 |
| Lakeville Road | 1 |
| Los Ranchitos Rd | 1 |
| Point Reyes Petaluma Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Marin County) |
|---|---|
| Us-101 S/B | 9 |
| Bel Marin Keys Bl/Nave Dr | 2 |
| Caledonia St/Pine St | 2 |
| Chileno Valley Rd | 2 |
| N. Knoll Rd | 2 |
| Novato Bl/.4Mi W Of Copper Hill Wy | 2 |
| Rt101/.1M S Alameda Del Prado | 2 |
| Rt101/.1M S San Antonio Rd | 2 |
ZIP 94945 at a glance
| Population | 17,635 |
| Density | 292 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $107,790 |
| Median home value | $1,129,493 |
| Home ownership | 70% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Marin 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 | — | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 33 | — | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 43 | +29% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 38 | -12% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 33 a year in the 2000s and 38 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 94945
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 94945?
Since 2015, 487 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Marin County (182 injured, 20 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 94945?
Since 2015, SR-116 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 94945: 5.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 94945?
The worst month is May: 10.1% of truck crashes in Marin County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 94945?
21 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Marin County since 2015, 4.3% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 94945 compare with California for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 16.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Marin County, vs 33.2 for California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 94945?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.