ROAD DEATHS INCREASED dramatically in 2025, with 190 people killed in 179 fatal collisions, marking the highest number of fatalities on Irish roads since 2014.

Provisional figures published today by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) show that 185 people died in 174 fatal collisions on public roads last year, compared to 171 deaths in 157 fatal collisions in 2024 – an increase of 14 deaths, or 8% year on year.

The figures exclude five fatalities that occurred in public places such as car parks, which are recorded by gardaí but are not included in the RSA’s official totals.

Drivers accounted for the largest proportion of deaths, with 76 fatalities (41%), followed by pedestrians (41 deaths, 22%), motorcyclists (30 deaths, 16%), passengers (21 deaths, 11%), pedal cyclists (14 deaths, 8%) and e-scooter users (3 deaths, 2%).

The report highlights a sharp rise in deaths among vulnerable road users, with the number of cyclists killed the highest since 2017, and motorcyclist deaths reaching their highest level since 2007.

In contrast, passenger deaths fell compared to 2024.

Overall, 74% of those killed were male, with 26% female.

November and December were the deadliest months of the year, with 21 and 24 fatalities respectively, while February and June recorded the lowest number of deaths, at 11 each.

The average number of road deaths per month rose from 14 in 2024 to 15 in 2025.

More than half of all fatalities (54%) occurred in single-vehicle collisions, while 55% of deaths happened over weekends, with half of those occurring between 4pm and midnight.

Young people aged 16 to 25 remained the highest-risk age group, accounting for 38 deaths, despite a slight decrease on the previous year.

Meanwhile, fatalities among those aged 46 and over increased significantly.

Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety Seán Canney described 2025 as “an incredibly difficult year on Irish roads”.

“Too many families have faced heartbreak. Too many communities have been left grieving,” Canney said.

“My absolute priority as Minister for Road Safety is to make Irish roads safer for everyone, and I will continue to work closely with all road safety stakeholders in the New Year to achieve this,” he added.

RSA chief executive Sam Waide said the rise in deaths among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists was “deeply concerning”.

Garda Assistant Commissioner Catharina Gunne said that it had been “a devastating year for the families of the 190 persons who died on our roads”.