Gardaí and RSA Urge Road Users to Stay Alert for Pedestrians Over October Bank Holiday Weekend

An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority are appealing to all road users to stay safe as the October bank holiday weekend approaches, with a particular focus on pedestrians. Gardaí have confirmed that 29 pedestrians have been killed on Irish roads to date in 2026.

Bank holiday weekends are among the busiest periods on Irish roads, and among the periods where road users are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal or serious road traffic collision. To date this year, 151 people have lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads, and 29 of those were pedestrians, or 19% of all fatalities.

The clocks go back an hour this Sunday, meaning fewer daylight hours. Gardaí are reminding all road users to ensure they are visible. Drivers are encouraged to use dipped headlights during the day, particularly if their vehicle does not have daytime running lights, while pedestrians and cyclists should wear high-visibility clothing.

Research by the RSA for 2021 to 2025 shows that 178 pedestrians were killed and 1,658 were seriously injured. That equates to an average of 36 pedestrians killed and 332 seriously injured each year. A quarter (25%) of the fatalities were aged 75 or older, while two-thirds (68%) of all pedestrians killed were male.

Both fatalities and serious injuries increased consistently from autumn to winter. Between October and December, 38% of pedestrians were killed and 33% were seriously injured.

Dublin and Cork saw the largest number of pedestrian casualties, according to the research. Half (51%) of serious injuries to pedestrians, and three in ten (29%) pedestrian fatalities, occurred in these counties.

Provisional data available to Gardaí for 2026 supports the longer-term analysis. Of the 29 pedestrians killed this year, six (21%) were aged 75 or older and 10 (34%) were aged under 25.

Between January and August 2026, there was an increase in detections of all four lifesaver offences compared to the same time last year. Speed detections rose by 55%, mobile phone detections by 17%, drink or drug driving detections by 9%, and seatbelt detections by 3%.

An Garda Síochána is conducting a dedicated road traffic enforcement operation throughout the October bank holiday weekend. It commenced on Thursday, 22 October and will continue until Tuesday, 27 October 2026.

Denis Ferry, Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement, said:

“As the long evenings draw in, we’re asking all road users to be mindful of each other over the October bank holiday weekend. This is a busy time of the year with the start of the school mid-term break, when many people attend Halloween-themed events.”

He added:

“Motorists need to be aware of those walking on our streets and roads, and pedestrians should make sure they’re visible, especially as daylight time decreases.”

Seán Canney TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, said:

“This weekend may bring difficult weather conditions, please take this into account while planning your journey and to pay close attention to any warnings or advisories issued by our emergency services, the RSA and local authorities.”

Sam Waide, Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority, said:

“Unfortunately, we invariably see an increase in serious injuries among pedestrians in the autumn and winter.”