An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority are urging all road users to support efforts to keep themselves and others safe on the roads this May bank holiday weekend.
There have been 55 deaths on Irish roads so far this year.
With improved weather conditions, many people are expected to travel to outdoor and scenic locations across the country. As with other bank holiday weekends, this will lead to an increase in traffic and road users.
Motorcyclists are also taking advantage of longer, brighter days and better road conditions, meaning more bikes will be on the roads.
To help reduce the risk of collisions, An Garda Síochána has launched a roads policing operation for the bank holiday period. The operation began at 7am on Thursday, 30 April 2026 and will run until 7am on Tuesday, 5 May 2026.
Road users are reminded that everyone has a role to play in keeping roads safe. Those most at risk are often the least visible.
Drivers are being asked to take extra care and to protect more vulnerable road users. They are urged to obey speed limits, slow down and always drive at a speed appropriate to the conditions.
Gardaí have also stressed that it is never safe or acceptable to drive after consuming alcohol or drugs. The bank holiday enforcement campaign will focus on driving under the influence, not wearing a seatbelt, speeding and the use of mobile phones while driving.
Analysis by An Garda Síochána has also shown an increase in the number of lifesaver offences detected between March 2025 and February 2026 compared to the previous 12 month period.
• 36% increase in speed detections
• 10% increase in the number of people using a mobile phone while driving
• 6% increase in the number of people not wearing seatbelts
• Incidents of driving while intoxicated are also up 4% over the previous 12-month period.
These figures display a sustained disregard for, not only road traffic legislation, but also the lives of other road users. Every time an offence is committed, someone’s life is put at risk.
However, it is not the sole responsibility of drivers to take care when using our road network. Vulnerable road users like motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists should be visible and adhere to the rules of the road.
29 motorcyclists (including both drivers and pillion passengers) died on Irish roads in 2025.
This number has significantly decreased with three (3) motorcycle fatalities so far this year. Analysis by An Garda Síochána has found an 80% decrease in motorcyclist fatalities by the end of March, compared to the same time last year. While this may seem like a positive trajectory, it is still three lives lost that could have been avoided.
195 motorcyclists were seriously injured in road traffic collisions in 2025.
The Road Safety Authority published its Serious Injuries Among Motorcyclists Report today. The report includes data from the Irish Road Traffic Collision Database (2021-2025), which is based on collision records shared by An Garda Síochána with the RSA, and data from the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry Database (2020-2024).
The report’s hospital data found that between 2020 – 2024, 1,648 motorcyclists were admitted to hospital following a road traffic collision.
• 89% of those hospitalised were male
• Half of those admitted were involved in a single-vehicle collision, meaning no other person or vehicle was involved in the collision
• Over a quarter (26%) sustained clinically serious injuries
• 71% sustained multiple injuries
• Four in 10 lived in Dublin
Superintendent Stephen McCauley from Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) Roads Policing said: “An extensive roads policing operation got underway this morning at 7.00am and this operation is in place nationwide. Gardaí work all year round to detect and deter road traffic offences which are known to increase the risk of death or serious injury on our roads. This risk further increases during bank holiday weekends.
“Today we are appealing to motorcyclists in particular to take care on the roads. There will be an increased number of motorcyclists on our roads during the summer period. Check your bike is in roadworthy condition, take additional care when turning at junctions and entering onto a roadway, slow down and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
“We all have a personal responsibility to prevent death and serious injuries on our roads. As always, An Garda Síochána is urging people to never, ever get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; slow down and drive at the appropriate speed; always wear your seatbelt; and do not allow yourself to be distracted by a phone while driving.”
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Sean Canney, said: “I welcome An Garda Síochána’s nationwide roads policing operation focusing on motorcyclists. Last year Garda figures showed 29 motorcyclists tragically lost their lives on our roads with a further 195 seriously injured. While motorcyclists represent a relatively small group of road users, regrettably, recent years have seen a concerning rise in fatalities involving motorcyclists and we must work to reduce that number.
“As we head into the May Bank Holiday weekend and as we approach the summer months, we will see more motorcyclists on our roads. I am appealing to all road users to be aware of motorcyclists on our roads, to take extra care, behave responsibly and to make the right choices to protect all road users including motorcyclists.
“All road users are entitled to feel safe on our roads and I urge everyone to make responsible and safe decisions this Bank Holiday weekend. This means never driving under the influence of drink or drugs, put away mobile phones and other distractions, and do not speed. Please behave responsibly to protect our children, our families and our friends who all share our roads.”
Road Safety Authority Director, Michael Rowland, commented, “While motorcycles make up a relatively small proportion of traffic on our roads, injuries among riders remain a serious concern. With 1,648 motorcyclists hospitalised over a five-year period, and over a quarter sustaining clinically serious injuries, it is evident that motorcyclists continue to face significant risks. The fact that half of these incidents involve single-vehicle collisions also points to the need for ongoing focus on rider training, and awareness. Reducing these numbers will require a collective effort to improve safety for motorcyclists.”
