The Road Safety Authority is appealing to road users to put safety first this Christmas.
The message comes as thousands of motorists take to the roads over the next two days as the festive season gets into full swing.
So far this year, 177 people have been killed on the country's roads.
Brian Farrell of the RSA said that people cannot afford to become complacent even though the number of road fatalities has declined in the past decade.
Gardaí say the road safety campaign for the Christmas and New Year period is in operation with targeted enforcement in certain areas.
These include speeding, the non-wearing of safety belts and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
