Drivers warned to take extra care over bank holiday weekend as Storm Éowyn leaves treacherous conditions

Garda data shows the risk of a fatal crash or one causing serious injury is at its highest between midday and 3pm over a bank holiday weekend. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins

Road users have been urged to take extra care this bank holiday weekend, as the fallout from Storm Éowyn continues to create treacherous conditions in parts of the country.

At a press conference at Garda Headquarters in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, An Garda Síochána joined the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and new road safety minister Seán Canney to outline the extensive policing operation set to take place this weekend.

“This is the first bank holiday of 2025,” assistant commissioner Paula Hilman said. “We're coming into it from really exceptional weather conditions. So our message very much is really to stay safe, expect the unexpected and please slow down.” 

The gardaí’s road safety operation kicked off at 7am on Thursday morning and will last until Tuesday morning next, with their data showing the risk of a fatal crash or one causing serious injury is at its highest between midday and 3pm on each of the four days of the weekend.

Garda data also showed drivers under the age of 25 are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal or serious injury collision during the hours of darkness.

In the first four weeks of 2025, there have been 12 fatalities on Irish roads, three fewer than the same time last year.

While the St Brigid’s Day bank holiday is relatively new, Ms Hilman said gardaí see similar trends in terms of speeding and intoxicated driving when compared to other bank holiday weekends throughout the year.

“We do see detections for these lifesaver offences,” she said. “But with this one, because of what we’ve seen with the storm last weekend and the weather for a lot of January as well, is very much focused on keeping everyone safe.

And recognising the road network isn’t the same this weekend as it is for many other weekends. 

Both Mr Canney and RSA chief executive Sam Waide, meanwhile, said they welcomed proposed reforms to split the functions of the RSA that gathered pace in the latter days of the last Government.

“I’m just in the job a week today, so we’ll be looking at all of that and how best to approach it,” Mr Canney said.

“The bottom line here is the RSA are an enbaler in helping to save lives with the gardaí and the Government. 

"It’s important that we concentrate on what the outcomes are, and the outcomes are to reduce and hopefully eliminate road deaths.” 

Mr Waide said he welcomed the “priorities to increase the focus on road safety”.

“It is about actually changing outcomes for the better and reducing the risk of loved ones being lost and serious injuries, changing individuals and family life forever,” he added.

Ahead of next Friday, when measures kick in changing speed limits on many rural local roads from 80km/h to 60km/h, Mr Canney called them a “step in the right direction”.

“Reducing speed on these roads increases the time we have to react to an unexpected situation, such that any collisions that might occur will be less impactful,” he said. 

“This is just one of the range of measures and actions the Government is taking to make roads nationwide safer.”