Safety Council reports 10% fall in road deaths

The National Safety Council has reported that the number of road deaths in Ireland so far this year is down almost 10% on the same period last year.

A total of 209 people have died on Ireland's roads so far this year, compared to 232 up to August 1 2003.

Eight people have died in road accidents in the last seven days, one of them in a motorcycle crash in Co Meath this morning.

Nine people died in road accidents over last year's August Bank Holiday weekend and the National Safety Council has urged motorists to take extra caution this week to avoide further fatalities.