Male drivers under the age of 26 involved in quarter of fatal road accidents since 2024

Statistics from the Road Safety Authority show that from 2024 to May 2026, there have been 101 deaths involving male drivers between the age of 16 and 25. File photo: Rui Vieira/PA

Around a quarter of all fatal collisions on Irish roads over the last two-and-a-half years involved at least one young male driver under 26, new data has shown.

Statistics from the Road Safety Authority show that from 2024 to May 2026, there have been 101 deaths involving male drivers between the age of 16 and 25.

Of those fatalities, 39 occurred in 2024, 47 occurred in 2025 and 15 have occurred up to May 20 in 2026.

For 2025, that was 26% of the total 179 fatalities recorded by gardaí on the roads that year.

The figures break down further, showing there were 22 drivers killed in a collision involving a male driver under 26 in 2025, alongside 13 passengers and eight pedestrians. There was a single motorcyclist killed, as well as three pedal cyclists.

For 2026, there have been seven drivers killed alongside seven passengers in similar crashes. The RSA has also recorded a single motorcyclist death in a collision involving a male driver under 26.

The highest number of drivers recorded as being killed in a similar collision was recorded in 2024, where 25 were killed. Further to this, there were 11 passengers killed, alongside two pedestrians and a single e-scooter user.

The data was provided to Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O’Sullivan via parliamentary question.

Mr O’Sullivan said the level of fatal collisions involving at least one young male driver is “extremely concerning”.

“We’ve had several years where road fatalities have risen. It’s clear more must be done to ensure younger drivers, particularly men, are made aware of the key risks when getting into a car,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“We need to get to a place where we’re seeing a real reduction in road fatalities, and this can be done by improving driver education and communication campaigns from the Road Safety Authority."

• Tadgh McNally is a political reporter for the Irish Examiner