Motorcyclist Deaths Spike as Summer Season Approaches
Motorcyclist deaths doubled since 2023. As summer approaches, take extra caution on the roads. Look twice, give space. That extra second could save a life.
Road safety officials are sounding the alarm as motorcyclist fatalities have more than doubled in Ireland compared to the same period just two years ago.
Already in 2025, 10 motorcyclists have lost their lives on Irish roads between January and late April, up from 7 fatalities during the same period in 2024 and 4 fatalities in 2023.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has issued an urgent appeal for caution as longer evenings and warmer weather herald the start of peak motorcycling season. The warning comes as over 90,000 motorcycling enthusiasts prepare to attend the NorthWest200 in Northern Ireland next week, which will significantly increase motorcycle traffic across the island.
Serious Injuries Leave Lasting Impact
New research from the RSA examining hospital data from 2019 to 2023 found that 1,556 motorcyclists required hospitalisation following road traffic collisions. Almost a third sustained clinically serious injuries with potential long-term consequences.
"We are urging motorcyclists to take every possible precaution, including riding within speed limits and at a speed appropriate for the road and conditions, as well as anticipating the actions of others," said Sarah O'Connor, Director of Partnerships & External Affairs at the RSA.
The research highlighted that young male motorcyclists aged 15-34 were particularly vulnerable, with nearly half of serious injuries occurring in single-vehicle collisions. Lower limbs, chest, and head were the most commonly affected areas, with over one in three motorcyclists sustaining multiple serious injuries.
On average, motorcyclists with serious injuries spent more than two weeks in hospital, with approximately 25% requiring transfer to another facility for continued medical care.
Personal Tragedies Behind the Statistics
Dublin father Alan Rice was among the 22 motorcyclists killed on Irish roads in 2021. His daughter Laura shared her family's devastating experience to support the RSA's awareness campaign.
"My Dad Alan had met his friend in Bray and they drove up the coastline to Skerries that day. They were riding home when he was in a collision with a man carelessly driving," she recounted. "Dad did nothing wrong and he was driving quite slowly waiting for his friend to catch him up after coming through a roundabout. He had all the right safety gear on, but it wasn't enough to protect him."
Myles O'Brien from Mayo offers a living testimony of the dangers and long-term consequences of motorcycle collisions. His life changed forever in a single-vehicle crash two years ago that left him paralysed from the breastbone down.
"My crash was as a result of inexperience and a bit of speed," O'Brien explained. "My message to fellow motorcyclists would be to slow down, drive within your experience, stay focused and read the road."
Safety Guidance
The RSA is urging both motorcyclists and other road users to exercise particular caution as the summer season approaches.
"We encourage both motorists and motorcyclists to take time to look carefully, assess the road ahead, and anticipate potential hazards and other road users - that extra time, that extra look could be the difference between life or death," O'Connor emphasised.
For motorcyclists, the RSA recommends wearing full protective gear, riding within speed limits, avoiding risks particularly at bends and junctions, maintaining vigilance, keeping distance from other vehicles, ensuring visibility, and never riding after consuming alcohol or drugs.
Drivers are advised to always look twice for motorcycles, be mindful of blind spots, and allow motorcyclists extra space, especially in poor weather or on uneven roads.
Detailed reports on motorcyclist serious injuries are available on the RSA website.
