Unmarked motorcyclist patrolling Cork roads in bid to crack down on driver mobile phone use

As the number of recorded deaths on Irish roads has increased by more than 12% in the last year, a senior garda in Cork is urging road users to be more vigilant ahead of the upcoming bank holiday weekend.

According to figures published by An Garda Síochána, there have been 144 road deaths so far this year, compared with 128 deaths recorded within the same time period in 2025.

Sergeant Mick O’Connell of Anglesea Street Garda Station said gardaí are continuing to roll out several road safety campaigns this year.

“There will be continuous campaigns issued as we lead into the October bank holiday weekend,” said Sgt O’Connell. 

“The local roads policing units are always out and about doing the best they can in relation to preventing any more serious injuries or deaths.

“Unfortunately, only last week we had a pedestrian knocked down by a bus in Cork and killed on the Lower Glanmire Rd.

“These upcoming campaigns will be about trying to get the message out there that more than speed, more than anything else, incidents happen because people are distracted by their phones. 

“This is a serious issue for us and we’re trying our best to curtail it."

Sgt O’Connell said there is currently an unmarked motorcyclist patrolling Cork roads to apprehend people using their mobile phone while driving.

“In an hour period we could have anywhere between eight and 12 people caught on their phone,” said Sgt O’Connell. 

“A lot of the time they’re texting on WhatsApp.”

Sgt O’Connell said this upcoming bank holiday weekend is going to be “busy in the city”, with many planned checkpoints.