New Report Reveals Concerning Cyclist Safety Statistics on Irish Roads
New RSA report shows 45 cyclists died and 1,278 were seriously injured on Irish roads from 2020-2024. Urban areas and male riders aged 56-65 most affected.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has published a comprehensive analysis of cyclist fatalities and serious injuries on Irish roads, revealing alarming statistics as Bike Week 2025 comes to an end.
The "Cyclist Spotlight Report: Fatalities and Serious Injuries 2020-2024" shows that 45 cyclists lost their lives and 1,278 suffered serious injuries during this five-year period. This represents an average of nine deaths and 256 serious injuries annually, with cyclists accounting for 6% of all road fatalities and 18% of all serious injuries.
According to the report, for every cyclist killed on Irish roads, approximately 28 more sustained serious injuries. The most affected age group for cyclist fatalities was 56-65 years, representing 29% of deaths. Men were disproportionately affected, making up 87% of fatalities and 78% of serious injuries.
The data revealed significant temporal patterns, with more than half (53%) of fatalities occurring between 8am and 2pm, while nearly a third (30%) of serious injuries happened between 4pm and 8pm. Urban areas proved particularly dangerous, with half of all fatalities and 80% of serious injuries occurring on urban roads.
Dublin and Cork emerged as hotspots for cyclist incidents, accounting for 33% and 16% of cyclist deaths respectively. Most fatalities (64%) and serious injuries (70%) involved collisions with another vehicle, and a fifth of all fatalities occurred at junctions.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Sean Canney TD, emphasised the importance of the findings:
"This report reinforces our commitment to delivering a safer more inclusive road network. Cyclists play a vital role in a sustainable transport future. We must act on this evidence and accelerate the rollout of infrastructure and education measures that will make cycling safer for all."
Sam Waide, Chief Executive of the RSA, described the report as "a sobering reminder that despite progress in road safety, cyclists are still at risk on our roads," adding that "these are not just numbers, they are lives lost, families devastated, and communities affected."
With four cyclist fatalities already reported in 2025, the RSA is urging all road users to remain vigilant and share the road responsibly. The full report is available on the RSA website.
