ZIP 98178 (Seattle, WA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 98178: 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 |
Compared with Washington, King County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share.
The headline for ZIP 98178: 1.9× yearly fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 98178: 4.2 in 2016–19, 8.0 in 2020–24.
Overview
Police reported 6,019 crashes involving commercial trucks in King County since 2015: 1,063 people were injured and 156 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every 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.
Road surface: 4.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Washington: 9.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-5 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (11). It is followed by SR-181 (7), 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.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in April (12%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.6, vs 2.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 98178 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-5, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in April; review collection routes for that month.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
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 | 7 |
| I-405 | 4 |
| SR-99 | 3 |
| I-90 | 2 |
| SR-167 | 2 |
| SR-509 | 2 |
| SR-516 | 2 |
| SR-900 | 2 |
| 1st 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 98178 at a glance
| Population | 26,748 |
| Density | 2,107 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $99,505 |
| Median home value | $659,811 |
| Home ownership | 67% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 330 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 523. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. 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 98178
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 98178?
6,019 truck crashes have been reported in King County since 2015, with 156 deaths and 1,063 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 98178?
I-5 had 11 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 98178 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 98178?
Truck crashes in King County peak in October, with 9.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 98178?
Since 2015, King County has reported 180 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.0% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 98178 compare 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 98178?
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.