14 cyclists were killed on the Republic of Ireland’s roads in 2025, the fourth highest fatality figure this century and double the number of cycling deaths recorded in 2022, new road safety figures have revealed.
The recent surge in cycling fatalities forms part of a broader worrying road safety picture in Ireland, where the total number of people killed in collisions rose from 175 in 2024 to 190 over the past year, including 45 pedestrians, prompting road safety groups to call for a “whole-of-government response” to better protect vulnerable road users and “reverse this tragic increase in road deaths”.
Garda figures released this week revealed that 14 cyclists were killed on Irish roads in 2025, up from 12 in 2024, nine in 2023, and seven in 2022 and 2021. Last year saw the highest number of cyclists killed since 2017, when 15 cyclists died on the roads. Since 2000, only two other years, 2002 (18) and 2007 (15), have seen more cyclist road deaths.
This recent surge in fatalities marks a concerning move away from the prevailing cycling safety picture in Ireland in the 21st century.
Following a harrowing period in the 1990s – 46 cyclists were killed on Irish roads in 1990 alone, while the total number of deaths per year only dipped below 20 once throughout the entire decade – cycling fatalities have dropped dramatically in the past 25 years, reaching a record low of five in 2010 and 2013.
However, that period of apparent progress and reduced fatality rates seems in danger of drawing to a close, with the rise in cycling deaths coming as Ireland’s overall road safety outlook worsens.
In total, 179 fatal collisions took place during 2025, resulting in 190 fatalities. Of the 190 killed, 45 were pedestrians, 30 were motorcyclists (the highest number recorded since 2007), and three were e-scooter users.
In response to the figures, Ireland’s Minister of State responsible for road safety, Sean Canney, described 2025 as an “incredibly difficult” year, stating that too many families have faced heartbreak.
Canney said the figures were a “stark reminder that road safety is not just a policy area or a set of statistics – this is about people’s lives, about loved ones, about futures changed in an instant.”
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Road Safety Authority said the increase in road deaths, especially among vulnerable road users, should act as a wake-up call for the government to take action.
“It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the tragic loss of life on Ireland’s roads in 2025,” the RSA’s chief executive Sam Waide said in a statement. “We are deeply concerned by the increase in fatalities, particularly among our most vulnerable road users, cyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists.
“With sustained political commitment, a whole-of-government response, and adequate resourcing and funding, I firmly believe we can reverse this tragic increase in road deaths.”
Catharina Gunne, the assistant commissioner for roads policing and community engagement, said 2025 was a “devastating” year for road safety, and urged drivers to “adjust” their attitudes on the road.
“Each of these deaths has had a profound impact on their loved ones, families, friends, colleagues and communities,” she said.
“We once again need to adjust attitudes to driver behaviour and make driving while under the influence of any intoxicant, inappropriate speed, and driving while distracted unacceptable behaviours.”
That need to clamp down on “unacceptable behaviours” exhibited by motorists was highlighted over the Christmas period, the Garda revealing that 4,600 drivers were clocked travelling at over the speed limit last week, while 150 Fixed Charge Notices were issued to motorists using their phone at the wheel.
Of the 4,600 drivers clocked speeding, one was found to be driving at 140kph in a 60kph zone in Co. Donegal, while two others were caught speeding at 167kph in an 80kph zone and 207kph in a 100kph zone respectively.
Officers also made around 600 arrests over the past four weeks for intoxicated driving, with over 40 per cent of those arrested motorists suspected of being intoxicated while driving after using cannabis or cocaine.
“These are people making a conscious decision to take illegal drugs and to sit behind the wheel of a car that weighs approximately one tonne,” Garda superintendent Liam Geraghty said.
“Six hundred people took alcohol or took drugs and still got behind the wheel of a car, putting themselves, and possibly their passengers and all other road users, at risk. In the same period over 4,600 drivers were detected driving in excess of the speed limit last week.”
Meanwhile, provisional figures released on Thursday by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) showed that 57 people were killed in road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland in 2025, including one cyclist, down from the 69 people killed in 2024.
“I wish to offer my sincere sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones and to those who endure life-changing injuries through road collisions,” Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said in a statement.
“As we start a new year, I would urge everyone to resolve to have a greater focus on road safety, so we can prevent collisions and save lives.
“We all share the responsibility for road safety as evidence shows that more than nine in ten deaths and serious injuries are due to human error. So if you are driving, slow down; pay attention and look out for other road users; leave the mobile phone alone; always wear a seatbelt and never ever drink or take drugs and drive.”
Kimmins continued: “What is particularly shocking this year is the high number of deaths of some of the most vulnerable road users. Sixteen pedestrians were killed on our roads in 2025, and nine of those were aged 65 or over.
“As we go into 2026 and the dark winter nights continue can we all as drivers look out for people walking, especially older people who may be more vulnerable on our roads. If you are walking, whether using a footpath, walking along a country road or simply crossing the road, please always be aware of your surroundings. And if you are a cyclist or motorcyclist, please ensure you put your safety first.
“However we choose to travel, each one of us has a responsibility to ourselves and others to do so safely. By each and every road user taking personal responsibility, we could see a reduction in the number of people being killed or seriously injured.”
-1024x680.jpg "“Clear anti-cyclist bias”: Lawsuit filed against Toronto police after cop doored cyclist… before ticketing rider over incident")
13 thoughts on “Number of cyclists killed on Irish roads doubles in three years, as safety group calls for “sustained political commitment” to protect vulnerable road users”
Sadly this news doesn’t come
Sadly this news doesn’t come as a shock. When I read articles about how lightly dangerous drivers impacting on cyclist are treated by the Irish judiciary it makes the UK seem like cycling Shangri-la. How do you change things?
And yet they have shelved
And yet they have shelved once again the rollout of traffic cameras. Most likely because it would be politically unpopular, because it would actually catch motorists breaking the law.
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dublin/2026/01/01/plan-for-cameras-to-catch-motorists-breaking-red-lights-in-dublin-is-shelved/
And still no sign of a portal to upload video evidence of road traffic crime (same reason).
Truly horrific report. Two
Truly horrific report. Two big issues. 1) Perfectly illustrated by the editors silly choice of photo above; a fashion fool dressed in black, complete with black helmet – perfect camouflage so yet another dopey driver can say ‘I didn’t see him officer’. 2) Police are just not stopping lousy drivers nowadays. How often (when driving your car) do you see bad overtaking, tailgating, near misses etc? How often do police stop those types of drivers? Very rarely if ever! It’s all about cameras and only turning up AFTER an accident.
planetjanet wrote:
Come again? The “cyclist in Dublin” picture? The guy who admittedly has a black helmet and a dark grey shirt but very light blue jeans, orange shoes and his sleeves rolled up to show his very white forearms? And even if he was dressed all in black, it’s clearly a very bright sunny day…calling him a “fashion fool” and castigating him for wearing perfectly acceptable clothes for bright daytime riding puts you in an early lead for daftest comment of 2026 I think.
The “fool” crossing the road
The “fool” crossing the road is similarly attired; but wiithout a helmet I’m guessing.
I have sat at lights with a
I have sat at lights with a motorbike garda beside me, our light has gone green and a car from the other direction has gone flying through their red, and the garda did nothing. Asked him why at next lights, and he gave me something about not having seen it!
Another time, I was sat at lights beside ordinary garda in a car, for a minute. I got green on the small cycling light – which goes green *before* the main lights to give cyclists a head start. Further down, the garda comes alongside and starts accusing me of breaking red lights. I explain calmly to him there is a separate, advance green light for cyclists. He pauses for a few seconds.. And then “Why are you in the bus lane?!!” in an angry tone – “The bus lane is also a cycling lane” I reply – there is literally a bus lane sign 5 metres ahead of us with a bicycle icon in it, and a bicycle painted on the lane maybe another 10 metres further. Another pause…. you can see on his face he knows he messed up – I’m expecting some kind of “Ah, ok, on you go!” and that be that.
“You need to wear a helmet!” he then angrily shouts. I have to say, I got very angry at that point and professed my belief he was completely out of order in… hmmm… the strongest terms I could muster, without incurring liability for a public order offence (you’re not allowed to swear at the gardai here).
Basically, the garda give very few fucks about bad motorists – except maybe speeding (though, they speed around town themselves all the time – the ones who stopped me then went on to pass me at 50+, in a pedestrian heavy 30 zone). But at least some of them are Clarkson-wannabes who hate cyclists and itch to cause trouble for them if they can.
(Roll on red lights becoming optional for cyclists here in Ireland – I believe a trial is planned soon).
14 killed cyclists vs 45
14 killed cyclists vs 45 slayed pedestrians, crickey! Who would have thought that it was safer to move about on two wheels than on two feet? As long as murderous motorists are spared jail time, nothing will change. The situation is likely to further deteriorate. Also, fines for traffic offenses shall be increased by 10-fold.
MaxiMinimalist wrote:
Statistics would probably like a word!
Tempting to say “possibly just more rural / agricultural environments over there” – however without some further analysis about who is being killed where, how and when I would also be sent to the statistics master for a chat…
I suspect statistics would
I suspect statistics would like a word about this whole story. It looks very much to me as if the number of casualties has just been bumping along not changing very much since the turn of the century, and the latest figures are just within normal variation. Cherry picking a low point as a comparison and using that to talk about them ‘doubling’ is somewhat dubious.
The economy is everything
The economy is everything much better to a cyclist dead than have to lose someone being banned from driving and not paying vehicle tax.
rbrtribble wrote:
It really doesn’t help the case for cyclists to state hysterical nonsense. On average, a fatal road incident in the UK costs the nation over £2 million, equivalent to VED on more than 10,000 vehicles.
Assuming they pay the tax…
Assuming they pay the tax… also I believe there are studies showing that when all externalities are counted driving emerges as a net cost to the tax payer * while cycling is a benefit. So for everyone it would be better to lose the driver…
* Of course motoring provides massive financial benefits to some groups – the motoring and related industries. And that in turn allows them to … er … make it worthwhile for politicians and government officers to maintain the status quo. (Of course the bigger factor may be everyone now yelling about their “right to drive”…)
And we can of course all decide we are very happy to pay the cost because we want motoring! I feel we should just be clearer about what we’re paying and getting in return.
Sadly I am not surprised,
Sadly I am not surprised, looking at the clips posted on X, the driving and lack of enforcement from incidents reported to the Garda. Also the attitude of motorists towards cyclists is really poor. Maybe this article is the kick up the arse the Garda needs, to do something about it.