Driver behaviour remains the biggest barrier to bringing down road death figures, the head of Dublin Metropolitan Region roads policing has said.

Chief Superintendent Aidan Reid was speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland to mark the European Day Without a Road Death campaign.

It is the second year of the campaign, which is backed by the European Traffic Police Network and the European Commission.

On average, 70 people die on European roads every day. 

Supt Reid said that all road users can play their part in road safety.

"We want everybody to become involved, including children being transported in cars today, in ensuring that everybody in the car is wearing a seat belt and no one is using a mobile phone," he said.

"One death is too many."

Supt Reid added that by "lowering their speed, never, ever drinking and driving, and by watching out for vulnerable road users - pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists," people can help make Irish roads safer.

He also said that 40% of road deaths worldwide involve people who drive for work.

The Road Safety Authority and gardaí have appealed to Government departments, people who operate large fleets and local authorities to all play their part in the campaign.

112 people have died on Irish roads so far in 2017, a reduction of 24 on the comparable figure for last year.

Ireland is joint-fifth best in Europe with Spain for reduction in road deaths, Supt Reid said.