Eleven motorcyclist have lost their lives on Irish roads this year.

And with five motorcycle riders killed in March alone, An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) are appealing to motorists to be aware of and to look out for them, not just over the coming May Bank Holiday weekend but at all times.

Drivers should expect to encounter motorcyclists on the road more often now and throughout the summer period.

“Any motorcyclist will tell you of a near-miss encounter or collision they’ve had with a car or van where that driver said the immortal words ‘Sorry, I just didn’t see you’.” said Mr. Stefan Auler, Regional Manager, Driver Testing, RSA.

“So, drivers, expect to meet motorcyclists on your journey, concentrate on observing the road and don’t get distracted.”

Our message to other road users is to check twice for motorcyclists in order to prevent serious injuries or the unnecessary loss of life. #VisionZero https://t.co/LluQ11lX4A pic.twitter.com/hpP7wwRqcY

— RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) April 29, 2022

A factor in collisions involving a motorcyclist and a driver is when a car or van turns or drives through a junction / joins a main road from a minor road, fails to observe, and ends up colliding with the motorcyclist. Therefore, it is critical that drivers look out for motorcyclists, especially at junctions, at intersections, when turning onto a main road and when changing lanes.

According to Garda Adrian Corcoran, DMR Roads Policing Unit, a good motorcycle rider needs to have a healthy respect for the motorcycle they are riding and a socially responsible attitude when using the roads.

“As motorcyclists we should also ensure we are equipped with the correct PPE and ride with dipped headlights on, to increase visibility. Unfortunately, motorcyclists are overly represented in the road death statistics,” he said.

“In addition, our detection figures show that half of the top speed detections are motorcyclists, with many traveling in excess of 160km/h. It is also extremely important to show restraint by reducing speed, and never, ever ride a motorcycle under the influence of an intoxicant.”

This May Bank Holiday Weekend the RSA and participating Applegreen service stations are providing free cups of coffee to drivers to help combat driver fatigue. The offer is available from 2pm to 8pm on Friday, April 29th to Monday, May 2nd.