An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) are urging all road users to slow down and stay alert this May bank holiday weekend.

There have been 55 deaths on Irish roads so far this year.

As the weather improves, Gardaí and the RSA said that many people will be taking to the roads to enjoy outdoor activities and travel to scenic locations across the country.

This means, like with every other bank holiday weekend, there will be an increased number of road users on the move.

Motorcyclists in particular are taking advantage of brighter, longer days and improved road conditions by taking to the road too.

Roads policing operation

An Garda Síochána said it is conducting a roads policing operation throughout the weekend.

The operation started on Thursday morning (April 30) and will continue until Tuesday morning (May 5) at 7:00a.m.

Throughout this weekend's roads policing operation, Gardaí are conducting both statutory mandatory intoxicant testing and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints.

In an update on the operation this morning (Friday), Gardaí said to date, a total of 15 people were arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant (alcohol and drugs).

In excess of 580 drivers were detected for speeding offences during the first 24 hours of the operation.

Abide by speed limit

An Garda Síochána and the RSA said: "We all have a role to play in keeping our roads safe. The people most exposed on our roads are often the least visible.

"Drivers have a vital role in protecting themselves and more vulnerable road users.

An Garda Síochána said that at no point is it safe or acceptable to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after having an intoxicant such as alcohol or drugs.

"This weekend’s enforcement operation is focusing on driving under the influence of an intoxicant, not wearing a seatbelt, speeding, and using a mobile phone while driving," it added.

An Garda Síochána’s analysis of road traffic incidents notes an overall increase in the number of life-saver offences detected between March 2025–February 2026, compared with the previous 12-month period:

36% increase in speed detections;
10% increase in the number of people using a mobile phone while driving;
6% increase in the number of people not wearing seatbelts;
Incidents of driving while intoxicated are also up 4% over the previous 12-month period.

These figures display a "sustained disregard for, not only road traffic legislation, but also the lives of other road users", Gardaí said.

"Every time an offence is committed, someone’s life is put at risk."

However, it is not the sole responsibility of drivers to take care when using the road network, with vulnerable road users like motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists urged to be visible and adhere to the rules of the road, the authorities said.

Motorcyclists

The RSA this week published its Serious Injuries Among Motorcyclists Report.

The report includes data from the Irish Road Traffic Collision Database (2021-2025), which is based on collision records shared by An Garda Síochána with the RSA, and data from the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry Database (2020-2024).

The report's hospital data found that between 2020-2024, 1,648 motorcyclists were admitted to hospital following a road traffic collision.

Superintendent Stephen McCauley from Dublin Metropolitan Region Roads Policing said: "Gardaí work all year round to detect and deter road traffic offences which are known to increase the risk of death or serious injury on our roads.

"This risk further increases during bank holiday weekends.

"We are appealing to motorcyclists in particular to take care on the roads."

Behave responsibly

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Sean Canney said all road users are "entitled to feel safe on our roads".

"I urge everyone to make responsible and safe decisions this bank holiday weekend," he said.

"This means never driving under the influence of drink or drugs, put away mobile phones and other distractions, and do not speed.

"Please behave responsibly to protect our children, our families and our friends who all share our roads."