Dad died on roadside after careless driver crashed into his motorbike – he'd safety gear on but came home to us in a box
THE daughter of a motorcyclist killed on an Irish road has urged drivers to become more aware of bikers as part of a new safety campaign.
Alan Rice was "thrown from his motorbike" and onto a grassy verge
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Laura Rice's father, Alan, was killed in a collision in 2022
Credit: Keith Arkins Media
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Alan Rice died after he was hit by a car while on his motorcycle
Credit: Collect
This year has seen a rise in motorcyclist deaths.
Already in 2025, 10 motorcyclists have lost their lives on Irish roads.
That is an increase from seven fatalities during the same period in 2024 and four in 2023.
Dublin dad Alan was among the 22 motorcyclists killed on Irish roads in 2021.
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His daughter Laura describes the loss of her dad in support of the RSA's
She said: 'My Dad Alan had met his friend in Bray and they drove up the coastline to
'Dad did nothing wrong and he was driving quite slowly waiting for his friend to catch him up after coming through a roundabout.
'He had all the right safety gear on, but it wasn't enough to protect him when the man drove his car into him.
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'Alan was thrown from his motorbike and landed on a grassy verge. His friend did all he could to try to keep him alive, but he died there on the side of the road with the sun sprinkling under the trees.
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'No goodbyes, no hugs, just the deafening silence of him coming home to us in a box.'
New RSA research has revealed that 1,556 motorcyclists were hospitalised following road traffic collisions from 2019 to 2023.
Of these, almost a third sustained clinically serious injuries, which have a higher probability of long-term consequences for the casualty after the collision.
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Key findings revealed that a large number of hospitalisations involved young male motorcyclists aged 15–34 and almost half of clinically serious injuries occurred in single-vehicle collisions.
CRASH SURVIVOR'S LIFE CHANGED FOREVER
Lower limbs, chest, and head were the most affected areas, with over one in three motorcyclists sustaining multiple clinically serious injuries.
Myles O'Brien from
His life was changed forever in a single vehicle crash on a bend two years ago.
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He said: "My crash was as a result of inexperience and a bit of speed. I came around the first part of an s-corner, changed down gears too much and the back wheel went into a slide.
"In my panic, I pulled the front brake and the accelerator at the same time. I was thrown off and my back hit a rock paralysing me from my breastbone down.
ROAD SAFETY GUIDANCE
ALL road users are being urged to take heightened precautions on the roads, especially as we enter into the busy summer months.
Motorcyclists should:
Wear full protective gear including a helmet, jacket, trousers, gloves, boots, and high-vis clothing.
Ride within the speed limit and according to road and weather conditions.
Avoid taking risks—particularly at bends, junctions, and rural roads.
Be vigilant. Look into the far, middle and near distance, using your mirrors and checking over your shoulders before changing position or turning.
Drivers should:
Always look twice for motorcycles, especially before turning, overtaking, at junctions or changing lanes.
Be mindful that motorbikes may be hidden in your vehicle's blind spots.
Allow motorcyclists extra space—especially in poor weather or on uneven road surfaces.
"My message to fellow motorcyclists would be to slow down, drive within your experience, stay focused and read the road."
The RSA has urged motorcyclists to take "every possible precaution" and told motorists to be mindful of other road users.
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Sarah O'Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs at the RSA, said: "We are urging motorcyclists to take every possible precaution, including to ride within speed limits and at a speed appropriate for the road and conditions, as well as anticipating the actions of others
"We encourage both motorists and motorcyclists to take time to look carefully, assess the road ahead, and anticipate potential hazards and other road users — that extra time, that extra look could be the difference between life or death.
'Drivers need to be aware of motorcyclists, especially at junctions and in areas of high traffic flow. This is of particular importance over the summer months and weekends, when the risk of motorcycle fatalities and injury is heightened."
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