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As longer evenings and warmer weather signal the start of the peak motorcycling season, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is urging all road users to take heightened precautions. And with over 90,000 motorcycling enthusiasts expected to attend the NorthWest200 in Northern Ireland next week, roads across the island will see a significant increase in motorcycle activity.

Tragically, this year has seen a rise in motorcyclist deaths. Already in 2025, 10 motorcyclists have lost their lives on Irish roads (1 January – 27 April). That’s an increase from 7 fatalities during the same period in 2024 and 4 fatalities during the same period in 2023.

New RSA research analysed hospital data from 2019 to 2023, which found that 1,556 motorcyclists were hospitalised following road traffic collisions. Of these, almost a third sustained clinically serious injuries, which have a higher probability of long-term consequences for the casualty after the collision.

Key findings from hospital data available here relating to motorcyclists with clinically serious injuries include:

• A large number involved young male motorcyclists aged 15–34.
• Nearly half of clinically serious injuries occurred in single-vehicle collisions.
• Lower limbs (29%), chest (17%), and head (15%) were the most affected areas.
• Over one in three motorcyclists sustained multiple clinically serious injuries.
• Almost 25% of motorcyclists with clinically serious injuries required transfer to another hospital for continued medical care.
• Motorcyclists with clinically serious injuries spent on average over two weeks in hospital.

“We are urging motorcyclists to take every possible precaution, including to ride 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 Road Safety Authority.

“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.”

“Drivers need to be aware of motorcyclists, especially at junctions and in areas of high traffic flow. This is of particular importance over the summer months and weekends, when the risk of motorcycle fatalities and injury is heightened.”

Dublin dad Alan Rice was among the 22 motorcyclists killed on Irish roads in 2021. His daughter Laura describes the loss of her beloved dad in support of the RSA’s road safety awareness for motorcyclists.

“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. 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 when the man drove his car into him. Alan was thrown from his motorbike and landed on a grassy verge. His friend did all he could to try to keep him alive, but he died there on the side of the road with the sun sprinkling under the trees. No goodbyes, no hugs, just the deafening silence of him coming home to us in a box.”

Myles O’Brien from Mayo is a living testimony of the dangers and long-term consequences of collisions for motorcyclists. His life changed forever in a single vehicle crash on a bend two years ago.

“My crash was as a result of inexperience and a bit of speed. I came around the first part of an s-corner, changed down gears too much and the back wheel went into a slide. In my panic, I pulled the front brake and the accelerator at the same time. I was thrown off and my back hit a rock paralysing me from my breastbone down. My message to fellow motorcyclists would be to slow down, drive within your experience, stay focused and read the road.” 

For an in-depth review of the RSA’s research relating to serious injuries sustained by motorcyclists visit:

• Motorcyclist report on serious injuries 2014-2023′ accessible at: https://www.rsa.ie/docs/default-source/road-safety/r2—statistics/analysis-of-road-users/motorcyclist-report-on-serious-injuries-2014-2023.pdf?sfvrsn=528bd566_1
• Summary of motorcyclist serious injuries 2019-2023′ accessible at: https://www.rsa.ie/docs/default-source/road-safety/r2—statistics/analysis-of-road-users/summary-of-motorcyclist-serious-injuries-2019-2023.pdf?sfvrsn=f6c478c3_1

Safety Guidance for All Road Users:

For Motorcyclists:

• Wear full protective gear including a helmet, jacket, trousers, gloves, boots, and high-vis clothing.
• Ride within the speed limit and according to road and weather conditions.
• Avoid taking risks—particularly at bends, junctions, and rural roads.
• Be vigilant. Look into the far, middle and near distance, using your mirrors and checking over your shoulders (life-saver) before changing position or turning.
• Keep your distance. In poor weather conditions, always leave a bigger gap between you and the vehicle ahead.
• Be seen. Make sure your position is correct, use dipped headlights and wear high visibility clothing.
• Avoid surprising other road users. Never do anything on the road that could cause others to slow down, brake, swerve or that could startle pedestrians.
• Think like other road users. Anticipate how they might react to you and other road users.
• Read the road and ride to current road, weather and traffic conditions.
• Match your speed to the conditions and never let others dictate your pace.
• Never ride your motorcycle after consuming alcohol or drugs.
• Maintain your motorcycle properly. Regularly check petrol, oil, water, damage, electrics and tyres.

For Drivers:

• Always look twice for motorcycles, especially before turning, overtaking, at junctions or changing lanes.
• Be mindful that motorbikes may be hidden in your vehicle’s blind spots.
• Allow motorcyclists extra space—especially in poor weather or on uneven road surfaces.

For more information and safety resources, visit Safe motorcycling advice from the RSA.