The Road Safety Authority and the gardaí have warned drivers of the affects alcohol can have the morning after a night of drinking.
Launching the appeal for motorists to drive responsibly on the roads over the Christmas period, they said alcohol remains a significant contributory factor in fatal crashes.
Motorists have been warned in particular about the dangers of driving the morning after a night of drinking when they could still be impaired by alcohol.
Statistics show that 11% of fatal collision in which a driver had consumed alcohol occurred between the hours of 7am and 11am.
According to gardaí, 6% of all driving under the influence arrests have also taken place within that four- hour period, with the highest number occurring on a Sunday morning.
Assistant Garda Commissioner David Sheehan said the six-week Christmas and New Year road safety campaign, beginning this weekend, will aim to deter people from driving under the influence with a number of checkpoints around the country.
So far this year 136 people have died on Irish roads.
