Alarming Spike in M50 Collisions: 2025 Surpasses 2024 in Just 10 Months
Here’s a startling fact: the M50 motorway has already seen more collisions in the first ten months of 2025 than it did throughout the entire year of 2024. According to data from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), there were 676 collisions in 2024, but from January 1 to October 31, 2025, that number climbed to 682. But here’s where it gets controversial: while the M50 Incident Support Unit has slashed response times to 13 minutes and reduced incident durations to 30 minutes, the root causes of these collisions remain deeply problematic.
Strategically positioned along motorway junctions, the Incident Support Unit’s vehicles are designed to respond swiftly to emergencies. Yet, despite these efforts, collisions persist. Unit supervisor Ryan Mulroy points to driver distraction as the primary culprit. Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he highlighted everyday behaviors like using mobile phones, eating breakfast, or simply not paying attention as major contributors. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about texting and driving—even glancing at an incident on the opposite side of the motorway (a behavior known as ‘rubbernecking’) is causing congestion and accidents.
Mulroy explained, ‘We often see drivers slowing down to take photos of an incident in lane three, unaware they’re creating a hazard by blocking the road. This rubbernecking frequently leads to collisions on the opposite side of the motorway—a daily issue we’re battling.’
Traffic volumes are another critical factor. The busiest stretch of the M50, between Junction 5 and Junction 6, has seen a 2.2% increase in daily traffic compared to last year. Even more striking, traffic is up 11% from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. With over 150,000 vehicles using the motorway daily, it’s no surprise that congestion and collision risks are soaring. TII Motorway Operations Manager Daniel Pentony notes, ‘Higher traffic volumes inherently increase the likelihood of incidents.’
To combat this, TII’s Motorway Operations Control Centre coordinates incident and traffic management, monitoring conditions and adjusting roadside messaging or variable speed limits as needed. Peak congestion times are between 7–9 a.m. and 3:30–7 p.m., and variable speed limits are deployed during blockages or proactively to smooth traffic flow. Pentony explains, ‘Shockwave behavior—those sudden stop-start movements caused by abrupt braking—can be mitigated with variable speed limits, improving safety and driver comfort.’
But here’s a thought-provoking question: Are these measures enough, or do we need a cultural shift in how drivers approach motorway safety? The Irish Road Hauliers Association (IRHA) estimates that congestion delays cost hauliers up to €100 per hour, factoring in fuel, wages, and lost productivity. IRHA President Ger Hyland emphasizes, ‘Our drivers have strict working hours. Every 30 minutes lost is 30 minutes less our trucks can earn a living.’
As collisions rise and traffic volumes surge, the M50’s challenges raise critical questions about driver responsibility, infrastructure limits, and the future of motorway safety. What do you think? Are current measures sufficient, or is it time for a radical rethink? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation that could shape the road ahead.