New figures show that more than one person is killed each day on the country's roads as the number of fatalities this year rises to 66.
The National Safety Council released the data ahead of another busy weekend of road travel, and following a fatal road traffic accident in Co Galway yesterday in which a 20-year-old man was killed.
Throughout the past week, eight people were killed on the roads, raising the death toll to 33 so far this month.
Of this year's 66 fatalities, 31 were motorists and 14 were passengers. Also included in the toll are nine motorcyclists, eight pedestrians and four cyclists.
The figures show an increase on the same period last year, despite the relatively new penalty points system.
