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Statistical analysis shows a dramatic increase in wrong‑way driving incidents across Ireland's motorways, with 2024 reaching a record 91 detections and the next year poised to surpass that number.
In Ireland traffic safety authorities are now alarmed by a sharp rise in incidents involving vehicles travelling on the wrong side of motorways. Over the last four years the number of wrong‑way detections has increased by more than 140 percent, with 2024 recording a record 91 events.
According to the latest report released by the Road Safety Authority, the M50 motorway - which circles Dublin - has accounted for the majority of the incidents, with over 80 cases detected since 2019. Between 2019 and 2024 the total number of wrong‑way detections climbed from 37 to 91, a 146 percent jump.
In 2026 to date the authority has logged 62 incidents, double the figure for the same period in 2025 and a 32 percent increase from the first half of last year. The 514 total incidents recorded since 2019 encompass a range of behaviours - from delayed U‑turns at toll plazas to deliberate head‑on requests by police pursuits.
The data breakdown shows that only a small portion of the incidents are linked directly to police activity, with 6 percent confirmed as Garda pursuits. A further 14 percent of the events involve motorists who attempted U‑turns at toll booths, while 17 percent stem from illegal U‑turns at other locations. The largest single cohort-26 percent-refers to drivers who departed from a wrong exit ramp.
Additional 9 percent are categorised as other and 28 percent remain unknown due to limited visibility of camera coverage. Officials point out that the camera network that feeds the Database is heavily concentrated around Dublin and Cork motorways, meaning that rural and regional roads are under‑monitored.
The M7, linking Dublin to Limerick, and the N7 which transitions to the M50 have recorded a combined 80 wrong‑way reports, while the N25, which connects Rosslare to Cork via Waterford City, has documented 70 incidents since 2019. Because many events happen outside the camera field of view, the recorded figures likely under‑represent the true scale of the problem. The Road Safety Authority urges drivers to exercise heightened vigilance, particularly when approaching toll plazas and exit ramps.
Authorities are also exploring enhanced signage, improved driver education, and the deployment of additional cameras on regional motorways. The aim is to stem the steady rise in wrong‑way incidents and reduce the risk of head‑on collisions that could have fatal consequences for motorists and the public alike
Wrong Way Driving Motorway Safety Traffic Incidents Road Data Irish Transport
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