Roads claim another life as Gardaí launch road safety blitz

A 27-year-old man has been killed following a road accident in Co Carlow.

The car he was driving went out of control on the Kilkenny Road in Ballybannon shortly before 2.30am this morning and he was alone in the car at the time.

Meanwhile, the latest figures released by the Gardaí have revealed that only fifteen drivers have been banned from the country's roads after building up twelve penalty points.

The figures were released as part of the Gardaí's six week Christmas safe-driving campaign which kicks off tomorrow.

Further information released showed that up to 3,000 people are carrying penalty points and the majority of points were handed out for speeding.

This, together with drink driving and failure to wear seat-belts, will be the focus of the Christmas and New Year safety campaign.

Gardaí said they are aiming to keep the death toll on the roads this year under 400.