The chief executive of the Road Safety Authority has asked all road users to slow down and stay alert.
Sam Waide said that post-pandemic activities have resumed on a local and national level, which means there are greater volumes on the road and this increase in traffic means a greater risk for people using the roads.
He particularly urged motorists to minimise distractions and make sure that mobile phones are not used while driving.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, Mr Waide said mobile phone usage continues to be a problem and that a survey from the RSA found people were supporting of increasing fines for those who were found to use their phone while driving.
'That increase in busyness and traffic increases the risk on the road for everyone, not just fatal users, but our vulnerable road users," Mr Waide said.
"Unfortunately, there has been a significant increase in fatalities.
"But I would ask road users to really slow down... and for people using vehicles to cut out the mobile phones and the distractions."
Mr Waide said he has met with the Garda Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner and received assurances that road policing is a priority.
He said that technology is being used to identify the high-risk collision areas.
He added that part of enforcement is visibility, but that he cannot tell An Garda Síochána how to utilise their resources.
Mr Waide said that data sharing between courts and gardaí has been agreed and signed.
This means that when someone is disqualified from driving in court that this information will be updated on their records in real time, he said.
Mr Waide added the RSA has recommended a conservative approach to the regulation of e-scooters, because they are a new mode of transport and there is not a big body of evidence about them.
He said the RSA recommends that people should be at least 16 before they can operate one.
