Hauliers across Ireland, including operators in Dublin’s commuter belt and surrounding counties, are warning that untrimmed roadside hedges are creating major road safety hazards and driving up operating costs.
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has slammed local authorities for what it calls “continual inaction” on managing overgrown vegetation along rural and regional roads, which is leading to traffic accidents, blocked signs, and thousands of euros in vehicle damage.
Ger Hyland, President of the IRHA, said many hauliers are now spending as much as €1,000 a week replacing broken wing mirrors, often damaged by branches or briers protruding into narrow country lanes.
“When hedges encroach onto the road, truck drivers are forced to cross the white line to avoid damage,” Hyland said. “That creates a real risk of collisions, especially on winding rural routes commonly used to access regional depots and delivery hubs outside the M50.”
The IRHA is calling for urgent action, including hedge cutting up to 4 metres high to accommodate the height of articulated lorries and trailers. Overgrown vegetation is not only damaging trucks but also obscuring visibility at junctions and covering road signage, problems that are particularly dangerous on routes leading in and out of Dublin where traffic volumes are high.
The safety concern isn’t limited to drivers. According to the IRHA, cyclists and pedestrians are also at risk, with Hyland noting that thick hedgerows can force them to swerve or step into traffic unexpectedly. So far in 2025, 19 pedestrians and 8 cyclists have died on Irish roads, figures that underscore the stakes involved.
Under Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993, landowners are legally required to maintain hedgerows bordering public roads. However, Hyland criticised councils for weak enforcement and a lack of follow-up with non-compliant landowners.
“There are exemptions in the hedge cutting ban during bird nesting season where there’s a clear road safety issue,” he said. “But local authorities are failing to act and it’s putting lives at risk.”
The IRHA’s concerns are backed by data: a 2024 Ipsos B&A survey commissioned by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) found that 75% of HGV drivers identified overgrown hedgerows as a significant hazard.
While acknowledging the role hedgerows play in biodiversity, the IRHA insists that road safety must come first. The association is urging councils, particularly those in fast-growing commuter counties like Kildare, Meath, and Wicklow, to step up proactive inspections and engage more directly with landowners.
“Truck drivers aren’t just delivering goods, they’re helping keep the country running,” Hyland said. “They shouldn’t have to do it while dodging branches.”
