Figures released by the Gardaí today show that the number of people who died on the roads this year is the lowest in 16 years.
Three years ago, 415 people were killed on the road. That figure was reduced last year to 411 and this year the deaths were down by 32 at 379.
The Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, said the number of deaths were still at an horrendous level and his department would be working to reduce them further.
The Government's five-year road strategy ends at midnight tonight. The target was to reduce road deaths 20% over five years. Provisional figures from the Department of Transport put the reduction at around 18%.
Local authorities swamped by licence requests
Local authorities have been inundated with motorists applying for new driving licences. Some reported an increase of up to 30% over the past few weeks.
From tomorrow, all drivers must carry their driving licence or face fines of between €80 and €800. Once the penalty points system is fully operational, motorists driving without a licence will be penalised by one point.
However, there have been a number of complaints about the size of the licence and the fact that it is too big to fit in the average purse or wallet.
The Department of Transport says a credit card style licence is to be introduced in the middle of next year.
