Rise in young people being seriously injured on roads

The Road Safety Authority has said there has been an increase in serious injuries among young drivers aged 17 to 25 since 2020.

Almost a third suffer serious injuries if they are involved in a crash, more than any other age group.

The RSA analysis shows that 28% suffered clinically serious injuries, a higher share than for any other age group of drivers.

Serious head injuries and chest injuries were most common, requiring lengthy hospital stays with potential for life-long consequences.

The RSA also expressed concerns among older pedestrians, with figures showing that over a third of the 29 pedestrians who were killed so far this year, were over the age of 65.

Long term consequences

Seán O'Leary is a 27-year-old former Kerry footballer whose life was upended after he was involved in car crash in 2021.

He and his girlfriend, Emma O'Connor, were returning from watching the Munster final in Thurles when they were struck by a car overtaking on a bend in Abbeyfeale.

"I can still see the lights coming straight towards us," he said.

"The whole thing happened in less than 10 seconds, if even."

When Mr O'Leary regained consciousness, he found himself trapped in the car.

"I still can't really describe the pain that I was going through. It was pitch dark," he said.

"My right femur bone was hanging out through my leg. So at that stage, I thought I was paralysed. I'd lost all feeling my toes," he said.

Mr O'Leary was brought to hospital where the full extent of his injuries became clear.

"My left femur was broken, my right hip was broken, my sternum was broken. I had a very bad hand injury from the glass. It was nerve damage and I had suffered a head concussion also.

"Then obviously I lost a lot of blood from the open wound femur fracture. I think I needed eight blood transfusions over the following few days.

"Then I had to get a big operation the next day where they inserted metal rods into both my femurs and also into my lower right leg. So I have about 120 centimetres of titanium rods in my legs and still do have them and I will have them for the rest of my life."

He spent the next four months in a wheelchair and underwent five surgeries in total as a result of his injuries.

The man who crashed into him was convicted and jailed for dangerous driving.

"We were living with consequences of his actions, and we felt that he deserved consequences for his actions," he said.

"People need to face punishment for it.

"Even two evenings ago I was at home and I was watching my phone, social media, and I seen a video of young lads driving down a car and they turned around the car and went down the other side of the motorway.

"Your spine would just shiver because... they're not vehicles that they are driving against, there's humans inside those cars. Like, that's someone's brother, that's someone's mother, that's someone's sister."

Read more: Significant increase in young people dying on Irish roads

'Accident waiting to happen'

Denise McDonnell lost her mother Mary 'Peg' Bernie, when she was struck by a stolen e-scooter in 2023.

The 87-year-old had been attending a medical appointment in Dublin city centre and was knocked down while crossing the road.

"She was very social, played bridge, went to the gym three or four times a week, was very kind and caring and generous and loyal and a good bit of craic," Ms McDonell said.

She said when she was initially told her mother was struck by an e-scooter, she thought her injuries would be relatively minor.

"Once we arrived at the accident and emergency, there was a senior consultant who met with us and told us that mum's injuries were incredibly severe."

Ms Bernie died from her injuries three days later.

The man who struck her was ultimately arrested, charged and convicted of dangerous driving.

Her death had a devastating effect on the entire family.

"We lost my dad six months and six days after mum died, he just could not live life with my mum."

She believes e-scooters are dangerous and more enforcement is needed on the existing laws governing helmet use and the wearing of high-visibility vests.

"It's retraumatising all of the time when I see irresponsible use of them," she said.

"I see it here almost on the daily basis with children who are clearly under 18, flying along on e-scooters with no helmets. No high vis nothing.

"It's just like it's a life-changing potential accident waiting to happen," she said.