May is Motorcycle Awareness Month, a time dedicated to highlighting road safety for motorcyclists and reminding all road users to take extra care and share the road responsibly. With the brighter evenings and better weather bringing more bikes onto Irish roads, it’s an important conversation to have.
Statistics from the Road Safety Authority show that motorcyclists remain among the most vulnerable road users in Ireland. Between 2020 and 2024, 105 motorcyclists lost their lives and almost 900 were seriously injured on Irish roads. Serious injuries among bikers peak during the summer months, particularly from May through to September, when motorcycle traffic increases significantly.
The RSA has also warned that many collisions involving motorcycles happen because drivers simply fail to see the bike, particularly at junctions or when turning. Rural roads continue to account for the majority of fatal motorcycle crashes, while weekends and afternoon travel times are considered especially high-risk periods.
We were joined on The Agenda this morning by LMFM’s very own Pat O’Shaughnessy, an experienced motorcyclist who holds an advanced motorcycle licence and also volunteers as a Blood Bike cyclist— carrying out vital work transporting blood, medical supplies and urgent deliveries for hospitals and healthcare services.
Pat told us about why this is so important..