32% rise in wrong-way driving on Irish motorways

In the first half of 2024, there has been a significant 32% increase in incidents of wrong-way driving on Irish motorways, according to Transport Infrastructure Ireland's Motorway Operations Control Centre. This year, 62 such incidents have been recorded, compared to 47 during the same period last year. While the MOCC has not identified a specific season with higher occurrences, historical data from the past seven years reveals peaks in March, June, and September, with the lowest numbers in February, July, and November.

Recently, on August 17th, seven wrong-way driving incidents were reported within just the first two and a half weeks, surpassing the number of incidents recorded in the entire months of July and June. Tragically, five teenagers were killed in a head-on collision when their car was driven the wrong way down the M9 motorway in Kildare, while the occupants of the second car, comprising three women and a seven-year-old boy, are now recovering in the hospital from their injuries.

To combat this issue, the MOCC responds to reports of wrong-way drivers by immediately documenting the incident in their Network Intelligence Management System. This system then automatically sends out messages on motorway signs to alert other drivers about the potential oncoming vehicle. Additionally, the MOCC collaborates directly with gardaí and informs the relevant road operator, ensuring that incident support units can respond on-site if necessary.