Vulnerable road users – who include pedestrians, motorcyclists, pillion passengers, cyclists and e-scooter users – accounted for about 49 per cent of the total of 190 deaths in 2025, up from 39 per cent in 2024. The figures for vulnerable road users outnumber the 76 drivers who died during the period. Deaths among vulnerable road users had been in decline as part of a general reduction in road fatalities between 2016 and 2019. Then minister of state with responsibility for road safety Jack Chambers described 2023, when there were 184 road deaths, as “a horrendous and devastating year”. Road Safety advocacy group Promoting Awareness Responsibility and Care (Parc) said it was “very disappointed” by the 2025 out-turn.

Source: The Irish Times January 01, 2026 15:10 UTC