As the October Bank Holiday Weekend approaches, An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority are appealing to all road users to stay safe. Bank Holiday Weekends are among the busiest periods on Irish roads. They are also among the periods where road users are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal or serious road traffic collision. To date this year (24th October 2025), 138 people have lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads. With shorter daylight hours and clocks going back one hour this Sunday, An Garda Síochána reminds all road users to ‘Be Safe, Be Seen’. Drivers are encouraged to use dipped headlights during the day, particularly if their vehicle does not have Daytime Running Lights. Pedestrians and cyclists should wear high-visibility clothing and ensure they are clearly visible in darker conditions – statistics show a rise in pedestrian injuries on Irish roads between October and December each year. Of the road fatalities so far this year, 29 were pedestrians. Data recorded over the period 2020-2024 shows that 1,462 pedestrians were seriously injured following a road traffic collision*. More than one-third (34%) of these serious injuries occurred between October and December. And the data shows that 21% of pedestrians in these incidents failed to observe properly. Other data over that period found: • A 64% increase in the number of serious injuries among pedestrians between 2021 and 2022; • Four in ten of all serious pedestrian injuries took place in Dublin • Types of injuries sustained by pedestrians were predominantly head and lower limb injuries with an average length of stay of 11 days in hospital. • Hospital data shows that 1,384 pedestrians were admitted to hospital between 2020 and 2024 following a road traffic collision. Of all those hospitalised, 418 (30%) sustained clinically serious injuries, often with long-term impacts. Two-thirds were male and one-third were aged 65 or older. An Garda Síochána is conducting a dedicated road traffic enforcement operation throughout the October Bank Holiday weekend which will commence at 7:00am on Thursday, 23rd October 2025 and continue until 7:00am on Tuesday, 28th October 2025. Every member of An Garda Síochána on duty will be out conducting road traffic enforcement activity. The focus will be on detecting and deterring key risk behaviours such as speeding, impaired driving, mobile phone use, and non-wearing of seat belts. Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, Seán Canney T.D., said: "As the clocks go back and winter approaches, I urge all road users to make safety the focus of their journeys. 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.” Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Catharina Gunne, said: "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. "For motorists, we appeal to you to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to slow down and to always choose a speed that is appropriate for the driving conditions, to wear your seatbelt and remove any distractions while driving such as mobile phones while driving. We must continue to raise awareness among all road users about road safety, work together with road users and our partners, to prevent a further rise in road fatalities and serious injury road traffic collisions.” Michael Rowland, Director of Research, Standards and Assurance at the Road Safety Authority, said: "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.” | 