TWO people were killed in traffic accidents in the first 24 hours of the new year as new figures show that the number of fatalities on the roads has fallen by 50% since the introduction of the Road Safety Strategy five years ago.

A woman in her 70s has died following a crash in Wexford.

Three men have died following separate road accidents in Wexford, Kerry and Louth.

The number of people killed on Irish roads during long weekends this year has risen to 28.

A 20-year-old motorcyclist has become the third person to die on Irish roads in the last 24 hours.