RSA report reveals 105 motorcyclist deaths in five years, with most crashes on rural roads

All motorcyclists who died during this five-year period were male, and nearly two-thirds (65%) were aged between 16 and 45. Picture Denis Minihane.

105 motorcyclists died and 884 were seriously injured between the beginning of 2020 and the end of 2024, accounting for 14% of all road fatalities and 12% of serious injuries on Irish roads during this period.

The Road Safety Authority’s (RSA’s) Motorcyclist Spotlight Report: Fatalities and Serious Injuries, 2020 to 2024, published on Wednesday, found that an average of 21 motorcyclists died each year between 2020 and 2024, with 177 seriously injured annually.

All motorcyclists who died during this five-year period were male, and nearly two-thirds (65%) were aged between 16 and 45. Ninety-three percent of those seriously injured were men, and 82% were aged between 16 and 55.

Two-fifths (40%) of fatalities occurred between 1pm and 5pm, and 10% occurred between 8pm and 9pm

The report also found that half of all motorcyclist deaths occurred on a Saturday or Sunday.

Nearly three-quarters of fatalities happened on rural roads, with Dublin and Cork recording the highest numbers of both fatalities and serious injuries.

Almost two-thirds (63%) of motorcyclist crashes involved collisions with other vehicles. Just over one-quarter (27%) occurred at road junctions, with failure to observe identified as the most common contributing factor in multi-vehicle collisions resulting in serious injuries.

Sarah O'Connor, director of partnerships and external affairs with the RSA, said the report was “a stark reminder of the human cost of road trauma and the acute risks motorcyclists face".

Ms O’Connor said the findings highlight the need for both drivers and motorcyclists “to share the road with heightened awareness and responsibility.”

"Behind each statistic is a life lost or forever changed, and families left grieving," she said.

Ms O’Connor added that the RSA is calling on all road users to increase vigilance, particularly during the summer months when serious motorcyclist injuries typically rise.

"We must act now to reverse these figures. We all have a part to play in protecting the most vulnerable on our roads," she added.

"We’re urging drivers to take a second look before pulling out or turning – this is a life-saver look and we all need to build it into our every trip. We also need for motorcyclists to prioritise safe riding at all times."