Almost half of public transport passengers in Ireland say they have felt unsafe while travelling, according to new research from the National Transport Authority.
The NTA’s third annual report on personal security among public transport users found that 46% of passengers believe antisocial behaviour on buses, trains and trams was worse during 2025.
That figure is up three percentage points on the previous year.
Women, younger passengers and people using public transport in Dublin were more likely to report feeling unsafe.
Drunk passengers, verbally aggressive behaviour, harassment and drug use were among the main concerns raised.
Back in April, Radio Nova spoke to a few commuters, asking them a simple question: do you feel safe riding public transport in Dublin? Watch below.
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Despite this, the NTA described the overall findings from its survey of more than 1,500 adults as generally positive.
However, perceptions of safety were noticeably lower on Luas services compared with buses and trains.
The NTA said this may be linked to the nature of the Luas network, describing it as a more open system compared with buses, where there is a more visible driver presence.
Around nine in ten passengers said they felt very safe when using public transport during the very early morning and commuter periods.
That figure drops to around seven in ten for journeys made during the late evening and at night.
Luas, Dublin Bus and DART services were viewed as particularly unsafe after dark.
The report also found that antisocial behaviour remains a common concern among passengers, with inconsiderate behaviour the most frequently reported type.
The number of people who said they had witnessed verbal antisocial behaviour remained unchanged at 55% in 2025.
There was a slight fall in the number who reported witnessing physical threats towards others, dropping from 41% in 2024 to 39% last year.
Passengers, particularly older people, said a more visible Garda presence on public transport and at stops would be the most effective way of improving safety.
Other measures supported included increased security staff, stronger sanctions and improved surveillance.
The findings are similar to those of a separate NTA customer satisfaction survey involving more than 6,000 public transport users carried out last year.
The NTA said it is important that passengers feel safe throughout their journeys, while acknowledging that antisocial behaviour is an issue requiring ongoing attention.
A spokesperson said: “Antisocial behaviour is as much a problem on public transport as it is within society as a whole, and tackling it is a greater priority than ever before.”
The authority said the findings would be used to identify areas for improvement in the short, medium and long term, depending on the availability of funding and resources.
There is also ongoing work around the planned introduction of a dedicated Transport Security Force.
The creation of a transport police force was included as a commitment in the Programme for Government, and the NTA said it is working with the Department of Transport on developing an approach to identifying the most suitable model and the legislation needed to establish it.
Interestingly, the report also found that concerns about safety and antisocial behaviour were more pronounced among people who do not use public transport.
