Gardai launch road policing campaign ahead of the October Bank Holiday

Gardaí have launched a special roads policing operation for the bank holiday weekend.

Starting today, there will be high visibility checkpoints across the country to clamp down on speeding, driving under the influence, and mobile phone use.

151 people have died on Irish roads so far this year – 29 of them pedestrians. 10 of those deaths have occurred in Donegal.

Assistant Commissioner Denis Ferry is warning of reduced visibility, particularly with the clocks going back at the weekend………..

 

Garda statistics so far this year

151 road fatalities to date (+12 on same date 2025)
139 road fatalities on the same date in 2025

134 fatal road traffic collisions (+6 on same date in 2025)

The increase in actual fatal road traffic collisions is not as large.  The impact of a
smaller number of fatal road traffic collisions with multiple fatalities has a significant
impact on figures.
Seven multiple vehicle road traffic collisions alone account for 17 fatalities. 
In 2024, two multiple vehicle road traffic collisions accounted for four fatalities.
The monthly average for fatal road traffic collisions is currently 15, same as 2024
and 2023, less than 2025 at 16.
 
Road user types 2026                2025
Pedestrians      29 (19%)            29 (21%)
Drivers               57 (37%)            55 (40%)
Passengers       26 (17%)            10 (7%)
Motorcyclists   22 (15%)            28 (20%)
Pedal Cyclists 13 (9%)               13 (9%)
Escooter/ Ebike 4 (3%)               2 (1.5%)
Other                                               1
 
Ages of Fatalities
16 – 25 years: 38 fatalities (25%), compared to 26 fatalities in 2025.
16 – 20 years: 22 fatalities (15%) comprised four pedestrians, five drivers, seven
passengers, three motorcyclists, two pedal cyclists, one ebike/ scooter user.
Compared to 16 fatalities in 2025.          
21 – 25 years: 16 fatalities (10%) comprised three pedestrians, ten drivers, three
motorcyclists). Compared to ten fatalities in 2025.  
65+ years: 31 fatalities (21%) comprised 10 pedestrians, 11 drivers, five passengers,
two motorcyclists and three pedal cyclists). Compared to 31 fatalities in 2025 which

comprised 10 pedestrians, 15 drivers, one passenger, one motorcyclist, four pedal
cyclists.
In 2026, over 65 years accounts for 10 of 28 pedestrian fatalities.
In 2025, over 65 accounts for 10 of 29 pedestrian fatalities. 
 
Monthly Impacts
Recurring trend where after particularly devasting month(s) for fatalities there is a
period where road fatalities reduce.
May 2023: 20 fatalities, June 2023: 10 fatalities
August 2023: 26 fatalities, September 2023: 9 fatalities
February 2024: 20 fatalities, March 2024: 16 fatalities, April 2024: 10 fatalities, May
2024: 8 fatalities
July 2024: 21 fatalities, August 2024: 13 fatalities
November 2025: 21 fatalities, December 2025: 23 fatalities, January 2026: 13
fatalities, February 2026: 12 fatalities
July 2026: 21 fatalities, August 2026: 22 fatalities, September 2026: 14 fatalities,
October 2026 to date: 9 fatalities
  
Days/ Times     2026                                  2025
Sunday               38 fatalities (25%)         24
Saturday            25 fatalities (17%)         24
Account for 41% of fatalities this year
 
Monday              22 fatalities (15%)         20
Wednesday       21 fatalities (14%)         16
Thursday            16 fatalities (11%)         14
Friday                 16 fatalities (11%)         27
Tuesday             13 fatalities (9%)            13
  
Counties:
Number of fatalities          (2025 figures in brackets)

0 fatalities         Offaly (3)
1                          Westmeath (4), Roscommon (4), Monaghan (3)
2                          Kilkenny (4), Laois (4), Wicklow (2)
3                          Carlow (3), Longford (0), Sligo (1)
4                          Leitrim (1), Kerry (8)
5                          Waterford (6)
6                          Wexford (5), Limerick (8), Galway (15)
7                          Louth (2), Cavan (2), Mayo (9)
8                          Tipperary (4)
9                          Clare (2), Kildare (2)
10                        Meath (5), Donegal (10)
14                        Cork (14)
21                        Dublin  (17)

All figures are operational, provisional and subject to change.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement