An Garda Síochána has issued a warning to all road users ahead of New Year’s Eve tomorrow and the Bank Holiday weekend.
It comes as seven people died on roads on the island of Ireland in just two days over Christmas.
Motorists are being urged to take greater care on the roads as a result.
With Christmas and New Year festivities underway for many, an Garda Síochána have reminded road users and passengers to always wear a seatbelt. As well as this, they are reminding people to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
A garda spokesman said: “Following a number of fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions over the Christmas holidays, An Garda Síochána are appealing to all road users to take greater care on our roads.
“Hazardous road conditions over the coming days are likely. Please slow down and drive at the right speed for the conditions.
“Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol and always wear your seatbelt.
“A number of families are missing their loved ones over the Christmas holidays. Please take care and play your part in ensuring more families do not receive the same devastating news.”
Communications manager for the Road Safety Authority, Brian Farrell, told RTÉ’s News at One on Tuesday that the loss of four lives in two days in the Republic of Ireland was the same number as over the entire month of November.
He said: “We lost four lives on the roads in the month of November in total.
“So what we’re seeing here is in two days we’ve lost the equivalent of a month’s worth of lives on our roads. So it’s really a cause for concern.”
Appealing to road users over the coming days, he said: “Slow down, drive at a speed that’s appropriate for the conditions.
“The weather has been very changeable recently – you could be dealing with wet roads and you could be dealing with the problem posed by a low sun on the horizon in the morning or in the evening, so watch out for sun glare.”
