GARDAÍ ARE APPEALING to motorcyclists to be careful this summer as new figures show that there was a 70 per cent rise in the number of bikers and passengers killed on Irish roads in 2013.

Speaking today at Garda Headquarters, Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey of the Garda Traffic Bureau reminded motorcyclists that they “are not invincible”, so urged them to be visible.

In 2012, there were 16 deaths on motorcycles in Ireland, with that figure up to 27 last year. Already this year, two people have died.

The 2013 figure brings motorcycle deaths close to the number of pedestrians killed on our roads, which was 31.

Ahead of the May Bank Holiday weekend, Twomey says that getting ready is key.

“Make sure you’re visible as you set off. Make sure you’re wearing hi-vis clothing and have your headlights on.

“Secondly, always wear appropriate personal protection.”

The director of the Road Safety Authority Michael Rowland says that motorcycle fatalities are caused by four main factors.

“The first is motorcyclists attempting to overtake on the right of a car that’s turning right. The second is overtaking and colliding head on with a car coming the other way.

“The third is the motorcyclist losing control and the fourth is drivers looking, but not seeing a motorbike.”

Rowland says that drivers also need to be more aware of motorbikes and that men particularly need to pay attention. 26 of the 27 motorcycle deaths were male, while 14 were in the Greater Dublin Region.

Most of those killed were killed between mid day and 8pm, on roads that were dry and had 80km/ph or 100km/ph speed limits.

“As drivers, we need to pay more attention and be on the lookout for motorbikes.

“Motorcyclists should be extremely careful when overtaking and when turning right.”

Read: Serious collision between a van and motorbike on N7 Dublin-Limerick road