Counties Affected
Updated 28 September 2026: this report was regenerated with corrected figures. An earlier version overstated the year-on-year change by comparing against our own incomplete record of the previous year rather than official Road Safety Authority statistics, and included some double-counted incidents. See our methodology.
Overview
One life was lost on Irish roads during the period covering 7–10 May 2026. A young man died in a motorcycle collision in County Wexford on Friday evening, a reminder that every journey carries risk and that no road is without consequence.
Incident: Wexford, 8 May 2026
Jack Egan, aged 22, died following a single-vehicle motorcycle collision on the L4016 at Glenour, Adamstown, County Wexford, on Friday, 8 May, at approximately 9:20 p.m. Jack was the only person involved in the collision.
Our thoughts are with Jack’s family, friends, and all those who knew him.
Single-vehicle incidents of this kind serve as a sobering reminder of the particular vulnerabilities facing motorcyclists, especially on rural roads at night. Reduced visibility, road surface conditions, and the absence of protective bodywork all significantly increase the risk for those on two wheels. The RSA consistently advises motorcyclists to wear high-visibility gear, ensure their machine is roadworthy, and to ride at speeds that allow them to react to changing conditions — particularly after dark and on local roads less familiar to other drivers.
Year-to-Date Statistics
As of 10 May 2026, our tally — compiled from published news reports — stands at 54 road deaths for the year to date. At the same point last year, the official Road Safety Authority figure was 66 deaths.
That represents an approximate 18% reduction compared to the same period in 2025, which is a cautiously encouraging sign. However, comparisons of this kind should be treated carefully: our current figure is drawn from media reports and runs slightly ahead of the official RSA count, while last year’s figure is a confirmed official total. The two are not directly equivalent, and it would be premature to draw firm conclusions from the difference alone.
What remains unchanged is this: 54 families are grieving. No overall trend, however it reads, diminishes the significance of each individual loss.
Safety Focus: Motorcyclists and Rural Roads
With the arrival of warmer, brighter evenings, motorcyclists rightly take to the roads in greater numbers. This is also the time when risk can be underestimated. The RSA urges all motorcyclists to:
- Be seen — wear bright, reflective clothing and use headlights at all times
- Ride to the conditions — not just to the speed limit; road surface, weather, and light levels all matter
- Stay alert on rural roads — local roads can be narrow, unlit, and unpredictable
- Never ride impaired — fatigue and alcohol remain leading factors in fatal collisions
Drivers are equally reminded to watch for motorcyclists at junctions, when overtaking, and in the evening hours when visibility is reduced.
Looking Ahead
Every life lost on our roads leaves a permanent absence — in families, in communities, in the people who will never stop wondering what could have been different. Jack Egan was 22 years old.
As we move through May and into the busier summer driving season, we urge everyone — whether behind the wheel or on two wheels — to treat every journey with the care it deserves. The road does not forgive complacency. Slow down. Stay visible. Arrive.
If you have been affected by a road death, Anam Cara provides support to bereaved families at anamcara.ie.
CARD DESCRIPTION: One person lost their life on Irish roads between 7–10 May 2026, following a fatal motorcycle collision in Wexford. Year to date, road deaths stand at approximately 54 — around 18% below the same point last year, though the figures are not directly comparable.