MINISTER OF STATE Seán Canney has said the number of deaths on Irish roads this year “underlines the need for renewed focus on road safety”. 

There have been 190 fatalities on Irish roads this year.

This is compared to 175 road deaths in 2024, 184 fatalities in 2023 and 155 in 2022. 

Canney, who is minister with responsibility for road deaths, expressed his condolences to the families and communities who have lost loved ones, describing the year as devastating.  

Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy. Each person was a loved family member, a friend or a neighbour, and their loss leaves behind devastated families and communities.

“My thoughts are with everyone who has lost a loved one this year.”

Canney said that improving road safety must involve everyone. 

“Alongside strong legislation and enforcement, we all have a personal responsibility – never drink or drug drive, always wear a seatbelt, never use a mobile phone while driving, slow down and avoid distraction. These actions save lives.”

He noted that there have been increases in road fatalities in three of the last four recents, saying it is “especially worrying” to see increases in fatalities among pedestrians and older people.

‘Year of renewed focus’

This year, around 50% more people over the age of 60 lost their lives on the roads than people under 30. “This shows that road safety affects every age group and every community,” Canney said. 

He pledged that 2026 will be “a year of renewed focus” for his Department on tackling road safety, citing the government’s Road Safety Strategy and Phase 2 Action Plan 2025–2027, which aims to halve road deaths and serious injuries this decade and work towards zero road deaths by 2050.

The government has also established the Road User Safety Forum “to ensure that the voices of road users, including victims and their families, are directly heard and reflected in road safety policy and its implementation”, Canney said. 

He said the loophole that allowed repeated renewal of learner permits without sitting a driving test has been closed, with default speed limits on rural local roads reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h. 

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Local authorities have also been directed to review existing speed limits in built up and urban areas, and to introduce 30km/h limits where appropriate. Updated bye-laws are set to be completed by March 2027.

New legislation

Canney confirmed that work is progressing on the National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2025, which is expected to be enacted in the first half of 2026. 

“This Bill will restore local authorities’ direct access to collision data, allowing safety investment to be targeted at known blackspots. It will also implement recommendations arising from Judge Haughton’s report on the tragic death of Shane O’Farrell,” he said.

Further reforms are also being prepared, including graduated speeding penalties and camera-led enforcement of mobile phone and seatbelt offences.

Looking ahead, Canney said further actions will be considered in 2026.

“The number of lives lost on our roads this year is unacceptable. I will continue to drive delivery of the Action Plan and consider further measures to arrest this trend. Every death is one too many.”