The number of pedestrians killed on Irish roads this year is on course to be the highest level in 15 years, if the current trend continues.
Since the start of the year, 38 pedestrians have lost their lives in incidents, compared to 43 fatalities for all last year.
To date, 154 people have been killed in road incidents this year, one below the total figure for 2022.
The number is 36 more than the same period last year, and 42 more than the comparable time in 2019.
The Road Safety Authority has said an analysis of the figures indicate that pedestrian fatality figures for 2023 are estimated to be their highest in 15 years.
Ahead of the October Bank Holiday, the RSA and An Garda Síochána are urging motorists and cyclists to pay particular attention to pedestrians this weekend.
Over the same period last year, three people were killed on the roads and a further 16 suffered serious injuries.
With clocks going back by one hour at 2am on Sunday morning, marking the start of winter time, the RSA and gardaí are appealing for everyone using the roads to be extra vigilant, be safe and be seen.
Drivers are urged to drive with dipped headlights during the day, while pedestrians are urged to be clearly visible when walking during the day and wear high visibility clothing when walking at night.
Cyclists are also advised to wear high visibility clothing and ensure they have a white light to the front and a red light to the back, so they are visible to pedestrians and drivers.
A review of road traffic collision data has showed "a steep rise" in pedestrian deaths over the last two years, with the winter months described as being particularly dangerous.
The RSA has said almost twice as many pedestrians were killed at night than during daylight hours in 2022.
A total of 58% of pedestrian fatalities took place on urban roads with speed limits of 60km/h or lower.
The authority said there was a dramatic increase in fatalities among older people compared with the previous three years, with those aged 66 years or over accounting for 51% of pedestrian fatalities in last year.
This year older people have accounted for 32% of the pedestrian deaths.
The RSA has said international research shows that the greater the speed, the greater the risk of a pedestrian fatality in a collision with a vehicle.
It is estimated that 5% of pedestrians will be killed at an impact speed of 30 km/h, 50% of pedestrians will be killed at an impact speed of 60 km/h and 90% of pedestrians will be killed at an impact speed of 80 km/h.
The Chief Executive of the RSA said there has been "a really concerning" trend in 2023, when it comes to road safety.
Sam Waide said: "it's not just serious injuries and fatalities but it's also collisions and there's been a number of times where there's been multi-vehicle collisions."
Ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend, he said "one of the areas that we would ask everyone to be mindful of, particularly this weekend and next week when the schools are off, is pedestrians."
Mr Waide said it is important for pedestrians to be aware of traffic but also for drivers to be more aware of pedestrians.
"The children are off from school. They are trick or treating. It’s for adults to take more responsibility and be aware and actually make sure that children can play safely over the school holidays and pedestrians."
He also advised pedestrians to be visible.
"You need to be visible, not just in the evenings. And then the clocks are changing, so it's dark evenings but also during the day in the winter sun."
The Assistant Garda Commissioner for Roads Policing said the increase in road deaths last year and this year is "terrible" and "worrying."
Paula Hilman said gardaí are working with partners to try to reverse the trend.
She said: "Unfortunately this seems to be what we're seeing right across Europe and many of our neighbouring countries are also seeing those increases."
At the launch of the October Bank Holiday road safety campaign, Assistant Commissioner Hilman said the last three months of the year are "some of the most dangerous for pedestrians".
She defended the level of garda resources deployed to policing the roads this year.
"We are on the streets checking speed. As I’ve said, over 110,000 people detected speeding, over 6,000 people detected drunk driving, that's 25 people a day."
Ms Hilman said "this bank holiday weekend our focus will continue to be on the enforcement of known lifesaver offences; speeding, holding a phone while driving, driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and non-wearing of seatbelts."
The Minister of State at the Department of Transport said "we’ve had 38 pedestrians killed so far this year, which is tracking to be the highest in over 15 years."
Jack Chambers said "it's clear that speed is playing a key factor and a significant role" in the fatalities.
He said the aim of the October Bank Holiday road safety campaign is to "encourage all drivers to slow down and to be mindful of everyone who is around them when they are driving their vehicles."
Minister Chambers said that "the trends this year have been shocking."
"We’ve seen so many vulnerable people lose their lives and we've reversed the progress that we made in recent years."
