The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has voiced serious concerns about a rise in dangerous driving behaviours on Irish roads, urging stronger enforcement measures and legislative changes to improve road safety.
According to the association, reckless driving—including speeding, impaired driving, and mobile phone use—has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent statistics highlight the issue. Between November 29th and January 6th, Gardaí recorded 13,573 instances of speeding across the country.
During this period, 17 people lost their lives in road collisions, contributing to a total of 174 road deaths in 2024—a 4% decline from the previous year. However, young drivers remain particularly vulnerable, with 60 fatalities (35%) involving individuals aged 25 or younger.
The worrying trend has continued into 2025. As of February 2nd, 15 people have died on Irish roads, equating to an average of one fatality every two days. While slightly lower than the 18 deaths recorded during the same period in 2024, the figures underscore ongoing road safety challenges.
The IRHA is calling for an increased Garda presence to combat dangerous driving. However, law enforcement resources remain stretched, with Garda Road Policing Units (RPUs) seeing a 40% reduction in personnel over the past 16 years. Cork experienced the most significant decline, dropping from 119 officers in 2009 to 69 in 2024, while Dublin's force fell from 291 to 166 in the same period.
Additionally, the IRHA is renewing its push for mandatory black box installations in vehicles driven by 'N plate' motorists—those in their novice driving period after passing their test.
Black boxes, also known as telematics devices, monitor driving behaviours such as speed, acceleration, and braking, providing data that can help promote safer habits among inexperienced drivers.
