Three people were killed and 54 were seriously injured in crashes involving scramblers on public roads between 2021 and 2025.

Analysis from the Road Safety Authority shows that 42 of those killed and seriously injured were scrambler users, and all of those were men.

The findings also show that the majority of crashes that resulted in the death of or serious injury to a scrambler user happened in Dublin, at 31, and at weekends, at 25.

Pedestrians (nine) represent the largest group of non-scrambler road users seriously injured in such incidents.

Two scrambler users were killed in collisions in that period and 40 were seriously injured.

31 of scrambler users killed or seriously injured were 25 years old or younger.

Outside of Dublin, four scrambler users were injured in Co Cork and three were injured in Co Limerick in the period analysed.

One other road user was killed and 14 others were seriously injured in scrambler collisions on public roads between January 2021 and December 2025.

Nine were pedestrians, two were cyclists, two were drivers and two were passengers.

“This analysis demonstrates a persistent and serious road safety risk associated with the use of scramblers on public roads. The profile is clear – young men are most at risk, incidents are concentrated in Dublin, and many occur at weekends,” Road Safety Authority Director Michael Rowland said.

“Scramblers are designed for off-road use, and when used inappropriately on public roads they pose a danger not only to the rider but to other vulnerable road users. The RSA will continue to support enforcement and legislative measures aimed at addressing this issue.”

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“I think it’s no surprise, it’s tragedy, though,” People Before Profit Councillor Conor Reddy said of the RSA figures and analysis.

He added: “It’s what I’ve seen every day, almost for as long as I’ve lived in Finglas, and I was born and raised here.”

As Cllr Reddy spoke to RTÉ News two scrambler drivers drove behind him.

It is less than six weeks since 16-year-old Grace Lynch died on 25 January after she was hit by a scrambler in Finglas in Dublin.

In the wake of her death, her mother Siobhán spoke out, calling for measures to bring an end to scramblers being driven on the streets.

“Things were definitely quieter for a while and the community gathered together and got behind Grace’s family, but as we’ve just seen, not everyone respects that.

“And if I could send any message to the people that still are engaged in this reckless behaviour, it’s to stop, it’s take a look at yourself, it’s to think of Grace’s mother and family and friends and how they’re affected seeing this,” Cllr Reddy said.

The RSA has warned that “scramblers are designed for off-road use, and when used inappropriately on public roads they pose a danger not only to the rider but to other vulnerable road users.”

Councillor Conor Reddy standing in a field in a black jacket looking sternly at the camera
Cllr Reddy called for the sale of scramblers to be restricted to those who an prove ‘legitimate use’

It is already illegal to use most scramblers in public areas.

However, on 4 February, the Government committed to bringing in new regulations to implement a total ban on scramblers in public places, to be known as ‘Grace’s Law’ after Grace Lynch.

In response to a query from RTÉ News, a spokesperson for the Department of Transport said that “although the regulations have been developed quickly following the Government decision of 4 February, they cannot be made instantly”.

They said that officials from the Department of Transport and the Office of the Attorney General have “engaged intensively” on delivering the regulations.

“It has taken some time to develop the appropriate legislative definitions, make provision for appropriate off-road uses (of scramblers) and ensure compliance with EU law,” the spokesperson said.

They added: “The regulations will be finalised and signed into law in the coming weeks, alongside new regulations to significantly increase the financial charges that accrue to vehicles seized by An Garda Síochána for road safety offences, helping to minimise the number of seized vehicles that end up back on our roads.”

Cllr Reddy said that the promised legislation “will hopefully be progress on where we are at rights now” but he said already gardaí were already “constantly seizing scramblers”.

“Finglas Garda Station is full of scramblers that have been seized over the couple of weeks, but as we’ve just seen they are still on the roads.”

Cllr Reddy has called for further legislation to be introduced that would restrict the sale of scramblers to people who cannot prove “legitimate use”.

“Unless they have private land or the membership of a club, there should not be a way that you can acquire these bikes,” he added.