RSA reveals peak months for injuries and deaths for bikers in motorcycle report

A new Road Safety Authority (RSA) report has found that Sundays between 4pm and 8pm in the months between May and September are when bikers are at their most vulnerable.

The report also found that between 2019 and 2023, 105 motorcyclists were killed and 921 seriously injured on Irish roads.

Ahead of the June Bank Holiday Weekend, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána are reminding all road users to share the roads safely, as the high-risk summer period commences for motorcyclists.

The newly published RSA ‘Motorcyclist spotlight report: fatalities and serious injuries 2019-2023’ also revealed that the highest number of serious injuries for motorcyclists takes place in June, and the highest number of fatalities takes place in the month of July.

Eight in ten motorcycle casualties were injured in daylight, with one third (34%) of casualties injured between 4pm and 8pm. Sunday was highlighted as the most dangerous day with 20% of casualties occurring on that day.

Males accounted for all fatalities, while 9 in 10 of those seriously injured were also male. Almost a third (31 per cent) of motorcyclist fatalities occurred at a junction, with over half of these deaths occurring at a T-junction. High proportions of fatalities (72 per cent) and serious injuries (70 per cent) occurred on a straight road.

Multiple vehicle collisions accounted for over two thirds (67 per cent) of casualties with failure to observe reported as the most frequently noted action for both the motorcyclist and the other driver involved.

The RSA will be running a motorcycle safety awareness campaign for the month of June across video on demand, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. The campaign provides messaging in relation to four common fatal collision scenarios for motorcyclists and also messaging for other motorists to look out for motorcyclists.

Minister for State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers TD said that as people make plans to travel over the June Bank Holiday weekend, "it will inevitably result in more traffic on our roads and increase the likelihood of collisions".

"All road users need to be aware of our more vulnerable road users this summer – including motorcyclists, who are at high risk, as the report has revealed. All drivers should expect to meet motorcyclists on their journeys in the months ahead; give them space and share the road safely this summer.”

As of 29 May 2024, there have been 79 people killed on Irish roads, 8 more than the same period last year.

An Garda Síochána Assistant Commissioner Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Paula Hilman said that motorcyclists "are especially vulnerable road users, this vulnerability increases during spring and summer months when we see more motorcycles on our roads".

"So far this year there has been 10 motorcyclists killed on Irish roads. We would appeal to all road users to look out for motorcycles on the roads and we would encourage motorcyclists to ensure that their bikes are properly maintained, regularly serviced and that they travel within the appropriate speed limits."