A garda road safety operation is under way ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, after 42 people died on Irish roads so far this year.
Traffic is expected to be extremely busy over the coming days.
Gardaí say the potential to be involved in a serious or fatal road collision is higher during this time.
The road safety operation began at 7am this morning and will run until 7am on Tuesday.
Director of Road Policing Inspector Adrian Queeney said that 42 people have died on Irish roads so far this year, including 12 pedestrians.
He said a key message for motorists is to drive within speed limits, wear seatbelts and never use a mobile phone while driving.
He also said there will be checkpoints across the country where gardai will be carrying out drug and alcohol tests.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, he said: "Frankly the level of fatalities on our roads at the moment remains too high."
He said that some speed limits have been reduced in recent times for "good reason" as they "decrease the possibility of a fatality if a vehicle is in collision with a pedestrian."
Insp Queeney said that 12 is a "high number of pedestrians" to die on the roads in the first three months of the year.
He "encouraged" greater awareness by drivers that more pedestrians will be out now the longer evenings are here, and for pedestrians to wear high-visibility clothing so they can be seen, to walk on the "correct side of the road" and to walk on pavements where they exist.
Minister of State Sean Canney urged road users to "take personal responsibility" for their actions.
"Let's make a pledge to one another that we will arrive at our destination safely, that we will protect everybody on the road and that we will all enjoy the weekend with our family and our friends this year."
He said the Government was looking at ways to introduce alcohol interlocks - an in-vehicle breathalyser device connected to a vehicle's ignition system to prevent drunk driving.
However, he said there was no timeline on introducing such devices.
Analysis shows that the most dangerous period for collisions during a bank holiday weekend is between 3pm and 6pm.
Gardaí say the message as always is to drive safely and stay focused on the road.
