Share

cover art for Motorcycle Awareness Month May 2026 - The Importance of Being Motorcycle Aware - 11/05/2026

The Agenda

Motorcycle Awareness Month May 2026 - The Importance of Being Motorcycle Aware - 11/05/2026

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..



More episodes

View all episodes

  • Victims' Group Renews Call for Action on Knife Crime after Qayyum Balogun Death - 11/06/2026

    12:15|
    Knife crime has become a "scourge on Irish society" and requires urgent action from both the criminal justice and public health systems, according to Advocates for Victims of Homicide (AdVIC). The victims' advocacy group renewed its call for stronger measures following the death of Qayyum Balogun, saying it had warned as far back as 2015 about the growing prevalence of knife carrying and the increasing use of weapons in violent assaults. Qayyum (21), who was living in Dundalk, was fatally attacked after attending a gig at a premises on Grafton Street in the early hours of June 1st. AdVIC co-founder Joan Deane said the organisation's concerns from more than a decade ago are "more real than ever" and urged policymakers to take action to prevent further families from experiencing the devastating loss caused by homicide. Joan, whose son Russell was murdered in Drogheda in 2003 by his ex-girlfriends brother, joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.
  • Warnings That World Cup Cup Will Mean ‘Spike’ in Violence Against Women - 11/06/2026

    07:29|
    As excitement builds ahead of the World Cup, one charity is warning of a troubling trend that can emerge during major sporting events.ActionAid Ireland says international tournaments have been linked to spikes in domestic violence, with research from previous competitions showing incidents can increase significantly, particularly following matches involving national teams.The organisation says while sport brings communities together and creates a sense of excitement and shared experience, it can also be accompanied by increased alcohol consumption and heightened emotions, which may contribute to a rise in gender-based violence.ActionAid Ireland is now calling for greater awareness and support for those who may be at risk during the tournament, and Karol Balfe joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.
  • Chaos Unfolds on Streets of Belfast as Second Night Of Riots Take Place - 11/06/2026

    19:07|
    Northern Ireland saw a second night of unrest with police using water cannons on rioters, as the Belfast stabbing attack victim’s family said they were “disgusted” by the disorder.Police were pelted with bricks and petrol bombs by balaclava-clad rioters in Co Antrim on Wednesday evening in the latest disorder following the Belfast knife attack on Monday.Footage showed dozens of men dressed all in black and wearing face coverings gathering on Antrim Road, where they could be seen tearing bricks from properties and smashing paving stones with sledgehammers to create projectiles to throw at policeThis morning on The Agenda, we went live to Belfast, where we got all the latest on this.
  • Ownership Row Delays Safety Measures on Ardee Town Centre Street - 11/06/2026

    04:20|
    Longstanding concerns about safety on Sean O'Carroll Street in Ardee have once again come under the spotlight, but efforts to address the issue have hit an unexpected obstacle.At this month's meeting of Ardee Municipal District, councillors were told that Louth County Council cannot currently introduce measures such as weight restrictions on the street because parts of it are not actually in the council's ownership.The revelation came as councillors continued to raise concerns about the volume of large vehicles using the route and the potential risks for road users in the town centre. While the council says a process can begin to bring the street under its control, questions remain over how long that could take and what can be done in the meantime.We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Fine Gael Councillor and the new Cathaoirleach of Ardee Municipal District, Rachel Kerley, to tell us more about this.
  • Belfast Burns as Protesters Take to the Streets After Horrific Stabbing Attack - 10/06/2026

    19:01|
    People were forced to flee their homes as multiple cars and homes were set alight during a serious disorder on Tuesday night in the wake of a serious knife attack in the city.Businesses were also attacked by groups of masked young men, with several hundred turning out in the city following calls on social media for anti-immigration protests.We went live to Belfast on The Agenda this morning to find out more about this.
  • Fears Child Could be Killed in Rathmullen Park in Drogheda - 10/06/2026

    05:29|
    Residents of Rathmullen Park in Drogheda say they fear it is only a matter of time before a child is seriously injured unless urgent action is taken to tackle speeding in the area.The concerns centre on the route linking the estate with Ballsgrove, where locals say vehicles regularly travel at excessive speeds. The area has also been described as a "rat run" for scramblers and scooters, creating significant safety concerns for families living in more than 40 homes nearby.Residents are now calling for traffic calming measures, including ramps, to be installed as a matter of urgency. Sinn Féin councillor Debbie McCole recently met with local people and says their concerns are growing as the problem continues unchecked.Councillor McCole joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.
  • Immigrants No More Likely to Claim Welfare, Report Finds - 10/06/2026

    06:06|
    No general pattern exists of immigrants being more likely to be in receipt of social welfare compared to native-born Irish citizens, an ESRI report on welfare receipt rates has found.The report used data from the Central Statistics Office to assess whether immigrants in Ireland are more or less likely to be in receipt of welfare payments compared to Irish-born people.It examined a broad set of payments including unemployment, sickness/disability and family/children-related welfare payments, including universal child benefit.We found out more about this on The Agenda this morning.
  • Shocking: Thousands of Carers Go Without Food and Heat to Pay for Equipment for Loved Ones - 10/06/2026

    10:01|
    Thousands of family carers are cutting back on essentials like food and heating in order to make ends meet, while also spending hundreds or even thousands of euro privately on vital equipment such as wheelchairs and supports that they say should be publicly funded.That’s according to a new report from Family Carers Ireland, based on a survey of around 3,000 carers, which highlights growing financial pressure and isolation. The research suggests as many as 48% of carers are experiencing severe loneliness, with many describing how their “world shrinks” as caring responsibilities take over their daily lives.We found out more about this shocking report this morning on The Agenda.
  • “Stop The Game”: Louth TD Calls for Ireland to Boycott Israel Fixture - 09/06/2026

    14:13|
    Government TDs will not be granted a free vote on Dáil motions calling for the Republic of Ireland's upcoming Nations League match against Israel to be cancelled.While the FAI is expected to move the October 4th fixture at the Aviva Stadium to a neutral venue, that has not gone far enough for some opposition parties. Sinn Féin is bringing a motion before the Dáil today calling for the game to be cancelled entirely, while the Social Democrats will table a similar motion tomorrow.One of those calling for the match to be scrapped is Sinn Féin TD for Louth, Joanna Byrne, who says it is "incomprehensible" that Ireland would play Israel while what she describes as a genocide is ongoing, and argues that Ireland should do everything in its power to "Stop The Game".Deputy Byrne joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.