Motorcyclists are being urged to take extra care this weekend as gardaí launch their bank holiday roads policing operation.
A man in his 20s became the third motorcyclist to die on Irish roads this year after his bike hit a pole in Goleen, Co Cork yesterday.
Gardaí say there was an 80% decrease in the number of fatalities involving motorbikes by the end of March this year, compared with the same time in 2025.
Overall, last year, 29 motorbike drivers and pillion passengers died and a further 195 were seriously injured in crashes.
In a statement, An Garda Síochána said: "While this may seem like a positive trajectory, it is still three lives lost that could have been avoided."
The highest number of road deaths in a decade was recorded in 2025.
So far this year, 55 people have died on the roads, which gardaí say follows a similar trend to last year.
Over 1,600 motorcyclists admitted to hospital in four years
Analysis of data from the Irish Road Traffic Collision Database published by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) today found that 1,648 motorcyclists were admitted to hospital following a road traffic collision between 2020 and 2024.
The vast majority, 89%, were male and 40% lived in Dublin.
More than a quarter sustained serious injury and 71% had multiple injuries.
Of those who were treated in hospital, half were involved in single-vehicle collisions.
Gardaí say they are carrying out an "extensive roads policing operation" over the bank holiday weekend.
It started at 7am this morning and will continue until 7am on 5 May.
An Garda Síochána said their analysis of road traffic incidents between March 2025 and February 2026 showed an increase in the number of "lifesaver offences" in that time compared with the previous 12-month period.
They included a 36% increase in speed detections, a 10% increase in the number of people using a mobile phone while driving and a 6% increase in the number of people not wearing seatbelts.
In a statement, Minister of State at the Department of Transport Seán Canney said: "While motorcyclists represent a relatively small group of road users, regrettably, recent years have seen a concerning rise in fatalities involving motorcyclists and we must work to reduce that number.
"I am appealing to all road users to be aware of motorcyclists on our roads, to take extra care, behave responsibly and to make the right choices to protect all road users, including motorcyclists," he added.
