A 24-hour garda blitz targeting road users is under way in Cork, Kerry and Limerick.
It is part of a national campaign targeting dangerous driving habits.
While road fatalities are down nationally, there was a 50% increase in road deaths in Co Cork last year, up from 18 in 2010 to 27 last year.
Garda analysis for the Southern Region, which includes Cork, Kerry and Limerick, reveals that the worst time for crashes is Thursday and Friday afternoons between 3pm and 6pm.
The region also registered the highest number nationally for deaths of pedestrians.
Speed, as well as drink-driving, seat belt and mobile phone usage will be targeted today at some 80 garda checkpoints across the three counties.
120 patrol cars are being used in addition to the traffic corps and Go Safe vans to track offenders.
