ZIP 95033 (Los Gatos, CA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 95033: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Santa Cruz 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
4.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Santa Cruz County compares with California
Santa Cruz County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Santa Cruz County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Santa Cruz County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 17.0 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 49% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 8% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.5% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 2.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 78% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.9% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.3% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.3% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.1% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 41% below the state |
Santa Cruz County has lower values than California for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Santa Cruz County: 1 in 22 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.5%, against 1.6% for California.
Overview
Santa Cruz County has recorded 513 truck crashes since 2015, with 175 people injured and 16 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 6.8%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.3% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.2% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
SR-17 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 95033 with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: Camden Ave (2), CR-HICKS Rd (1) and Larkspur St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 22 crashes, 4.3% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in April (18% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 4.5, vs 3.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 95033 fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to SR-17 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at April schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.9% of truck crashes here, more than California; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Santa Cruz County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-17 | 6 |
| Camden Ave | 2 |
| CR-HICKS Rd | 1 |
| Larkspur St | 1 |
| Montevina Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Santa Cruz County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-1 S/B | 8 |
| Sr-1 N/B | 4 |
| Sr-17 S/B | 3 |
| SR-129 | 3 |
| Rt129/1.3M W Old Chittenden Rd | 3 |
| Freedom Blvd | 3 |
| Alba Rd/.13Mi W Of Rt19 | 2 |
| Main St/Green Valley Rd | 2 |
ZIP 95033 at a glance
| Population | 9,600 |
| Density | 41 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $189,118 |
| Median home value | $1,423,105 |
| Home ownership | 77% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Santa Cruz 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 | — | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 41 | — | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 43 | +4% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 42 | -1% | 1.4 |
In the 2000s about 41 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 42. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 95033
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 95033?
Santa Cruz County has had 513 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 175 people and killing 16.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 95033?
NHTSA data shows SR-17 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 95033 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 95033?
The worst month is September: 10.1% of truck crashes in Santa Cruz County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 95033?
Since 2015, Santa Cruz County has reported 22 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.3% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 95033 compared with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Santa Cruz County has 17.0 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 95033?
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.