The public are being asked to think of the 38,787 people who have died on Irish roads since records began.

Road users have been urged to ‘be safe and be seen’ as darker evenings draw in with the clocks going back this bank-holiday weekend.

A total of 341 vehicles were caught speeding on National Slow Down Day, gardaí have revealed.

Almost one third of bikers involved in fatal road accidents had been drinking, research has found.

The Road Safety Authority chief is urging the Government and gardaí to boost resources to the Traffic Corps, which saw its strength plummet by 40% during austerity.

Gardaí made more than 3,000 detections of motorists using mobile phones while driving last May — one of the highest figures for a single month on record.

Road safety bosses have warned there is a “real problem” with young males drinking and driving, as figures show alcohol was involved in almost four out of 10 fatal collisions.

Drivers face an extra 355 new speed cameras on the roads, with a further 26 devices to be located in Dublin, 24 in Mayo, and 22 in Cork.

Speeding was a factor one in three fatal road crashes between 2008 and 2012.

Defective tyres contributed to 71 road deaths in a four- year period, according to a new report from the Road Safety Authority.

Gardaí will be out in force this bank holiday weekend to ensure all motorists are wearing their seatbelts.

Motorists are being warned of the danger posed by sun glare as provisional figures indicate drivers temporarily blinded by the sun may have contributed to five fatalities and nine serious injuries in the last two years.

Garda participation in a Europe-wide operation targeting organised crime resulted in the arrest of a Lithuanian man in west Dublin on foot of a European arrest warrant yesterday.

Gardaí have revealed that 144 people were arrested here as part of a Europe-wide crackdown on road traffic offences.

CHIEF Supt Aidan Reid of the Garda Traffic Corps oversaw a 24-hour anti-speeding campaign nationwide yesterday expressing his wish that not one motorist would be caught driving over the limit at checkpoints, the locations of which were posted on the Garda website.

Schoolchildren are spreading the message about the importance of wearing seatbelts and being visible on roads at night, and some of the best campaigns were rewarded yesterday.

Police departments across Europe have announced a continent-wide crackdown on driving under the influence of drink and drugs in the run-up to Christmas.

Gardai, road safety groups and local authorities in the Dublin region are launching a Casualty Reduction campaign in April and May, to try and further cut fatalities.

A young couple from the UK who were in Ireland to attend a wedding died yesterday when their rental car was involved in a collision with a lorry in South Kerry.

The gardaí are urging motorists to stay safe and observe the rules of the road.

Gardaí are maintaining as high presence around the country tonight as part of the 24-hour Operation Slow Down.

One of the first motorists to come across 80 special garda checkpoints mounted in Cork, Kerry and Limerick yesterday was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

Gardaí say they will be out in force this bank holiday weekend with increased checkpoints and surveillance patrols around the country.

Speed continues to be the “No 1 issue” for gardaí as figures show detections jumped by over 50% in the past five years.

TRANSPORT Minister Leo Varadkar has rejected claims that a penalty points system introduced as part of a new crackdown on drink driving is a soft touch.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has rejected claims that a penalty points system introduced as part of a new crackdown on drink driving is a soft touch.

GARDAÍ believe road traffic deaths could fall below 200 this year for the first time since records began.

Gardaí will be increasing their numbers on patrol and on checkpoints in the capital today ahead of the bank holiday weekend.

ONE in every 20 vehicles could be on the road without either tax or insurance, according to data gathered by gardaí using new vehicle recognition technology.

GARDAÍ have announced a Christmas crackdown on motorists abusing the rules of the road.

Motorists were bracing themselves today for traffic chaos before the opening of the College Green rush-hour bus corridor.