ZIP 98118 (Seattle, WA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 98118: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in King 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
0.6 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How King County compares with Washington
King County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where King County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | King County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 22.1 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 14% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.17 | 0.18 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.3% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 56% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.8% | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.5% | 20.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.5% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
King County has lower values than Washington for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share.
What stands out in ZIP 98118: 1.9× fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 98118 per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (7.2 vs 3.8).
Overview
King County has recorded 6,019 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,063 people injured and 156 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 9.3% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (7.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.5% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across Washington.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.3% of truck crashes, compared with 9.7% in Washington.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 98118 is I-5, with 11 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-181 (5), I-405 (4) and SR-99 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 180 of the truck crashes here, or 3.0%, compared with 2.2% in Washington.
Their busiest month is April, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.6, vs 2.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 98118 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-5 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.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 King County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 11 |
| SR-181 | 5 |
| I-405 | 4 |
| SR-99 | 3 |
| I-90 | 2 |
| SR-509 | 2 |
| SR-900 | 2 |
| 1st Ave S | 1 |
| 30th Ave | 1 |
| 37th Ave S | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (King County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-167*026.00 | 24 |
| Sr-167*024.00 | 23 |
| Sr-167*014.00 | 22 |
| Sr-18*026.30 | 19 |
| Sr-167*019.00 | 18 |
| Sr-18*002.00 | 18 |
| Sr-18*001.00 | 17 |
| Sr-18*003.00 | 16 |
ZIP 98118 at a glance
| Population | 50,500 |
| Density | 3,124 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $113,762 |
| Median home value | $805,215 |
| Home ownership | 57% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in King 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 | 330 | — | 10.3 |
| 2000s | 344 | +4% | 8.0 |
| 2010s | 451 | +31% | 7.2 |
| 2020s | 523 | +16% | 14.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 330 a year in the 1990s and 523 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 10.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 14.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 98118
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 98118?
6,019 truck crashes have been reported in King County since 2015, with 156 deaths and 1,063 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 98118?
NHTSA data shows I-5 with 11 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 98118 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 98118?
Truck crashes in King County peak in October, with 9.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 98118?
180 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in King County since 2015, 3.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 98118 compared with Washington?
Per 100,000 residents, King County has 22.1 truck crashes a year; Washington has 25.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 98118?
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.