Drivers and motorcyclists in Ireland are being urged to share the road after a new report has highlighted the risks facing riders.
The Motorcyclist Spotlight Report: Fatalities and Serious Injuries, 2020 to 2024, published by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), reveals that 105 motorcyclists lost their lives and 884 were seriously injured during the five-year period, accounting for 14 per cent of all road fatalities and 12 per cent of serious injuries.
Based on Irish collision data, the report shows that young to middle-aged men remain the most vulnerable, with 65 per cent of motorcyclist fatalities aged 16–45 and 100 per cent of fatalities being male. The majority of serious injuries were male (93%) and 82% were aged 16–55.
“This report is a stark reminder of the human cost of road trauma and the acute risks motorcyclists face,” said Sarah O’Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs with the RSA .
“These findings highlight the need for drivers and motorcyclists alike to share the road with heightened awareness and responsibility. Behind each statistic is a life lost or forever changed, and families left grieving.”
Key findings from the report indicate that between 2020 and 2024:
- An average of 21 motorcyclist fatalities and 177 serious injuries per year.
- Half of all motorcyclist fatalities took place at the weekend.
- 74 per cent of motorcyclist deaths occurred on rural roads.
- 27 per cent of deaths happened at junctions and 63 per cent involved collisions with other vehicles.
- Serious injuries peaked between May and September, particularly in June (13 per cent).
- Failure to observe was identified as the most common contributory action in multi-vehicle collisions resulting in serious injuries.
The RSA is calling on all road users to increase vigilance, particularly during the summer months when serious motorcyclist injuries typically rise.
