As the October Bank Holiday weekend approaches, An Garda Síochána, and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) are appealing to all road users to take extra care on the roads.
According to figures provided by the RSA, 32 people have lost their lives on Limerick roads between 2020 and 2024, with six fatalities recorded so far in 2025.
Of the 32 deaths over the past five years, 16 were drivers, six were passengers, five were pedestrians, four were motorcyclists, and one was a cyclist.
The breakdown of fatalities by year shows four in 2020, five in 2021, ten in 2022, seven in 2023, and six in 2024. The RSA noted that data from 2021 onward remains provisional and subject to change.
Nationally, 138 people have died on Irish roads so far this year (as of October 24) and this figure continues to rise despite repeated safety campaigns.
To address these growing concerns, An Garda Síochána has launched a dedicated road safety enforcement operation running from Thursday, October 23 at 7am, through to 7am on Tuesday, October 28. Every Garda on duty will take part, with a focus on detecting and deterring high-risk behaviours such as speeding, drink or drug driving, mobile phone use, and not wearing seatbelts.
Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Catharina Gunne, urged road users to take extra precautions during the long weekend.
“An Garda Síochána is appealing to all road users to take extra care this long Halloween weekend. Bank Holidays are particularly busy times on our roads.
“Road users need to be particularly mindful at this time of year because road conditions are wetter and this weekend, clocks go back, so the evenings are darker and longer. Therefore, there is a greater risk for our vulnerable road users; pedestrians and cyclists. Please Be Safe, Be Seen.”
The RSA also highlighted a concerning trend for pedestrians on Irish roads. Of the 138 road fatalities recorded so far in 2025, 29 were pedestrians. Data from 2020 to 2024 shows that 1,462 pedestrians were seriously injured in road traffic collisions, with more than one-third of these incidents occurring between October and December.
Hospital records indicate that 1,384 of those injured were admitted for treatment, most commonly for head and lower limb injuries, with an average stay of 11 days. Two-thirds of those seriously injured were men, and one-third were aged 65 or older.
The RSA also noted a sharp 64% increase in serious pedestrian injuries between 2021 and 2022, highlighting the heightened risk in recent years.
Michael Rowland, Director of Research, Standards and Assurance at the RSA, said that simple precautions can make a major difference.
“As the evenings grow darker earlier, pedestrians are at greater risk on our roads. Our analysis shows a clear increase in pedestrian injuries in the final three months of the year. We’re urging everyone – drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike – to take extra care. Simple actions like wearing high-visibility clothing, using lights, and slowing down can save lives.”
Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, Seán Canney T.D., also appealed for vigilance, stating: “No matter how we travel, we need to protect ourselves and each other. Light up your vehicle; wear high visibility clothing; adjust your speed for the road and weather conditions; and never drive distracted or intoxicated.
“Emergency services are ready to help – but let’s do our best to avoid needing them.”
According to the HSE’s National Director of Services, Pat Healy, the National Ambulance Service (NAS) responded to over 430,000 emergency calls in 2024 – a 10% increase on the previous year. With projections rising to more than 450,000 calls in 2025.
Highlighting local performance, Mr Healy told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health earlier this month that Limerick has made major strides in ambulance turnaround times, noting that “on a busy day in Limerick, there are 100 ambulances coming in. It is one every three minutes. It has a turnaround time of 38 minutes against our target of 45 minutes.
He praised University Hospital Limerick’s improvements, describing the “huge job” that has brought local turnaround times down significantly, even on the busiest days.
NAS Director Robert Morton echoed that sentiment, adding that “Limerick has by far the fastest turnaround time in the country. Others are probably ten minutes above the national average.”
With shorter daylight hours and Halloween festivities coinciding this weekend, Gardaí are reminding all road users to drive responsibly, stay alert, and plan journeys safely so that everyone can return home without tragedy.
