The effect of the introduction of penalty points which resulted in a significant reduction in the number of road fatalities has not been maintained, according to a report released today.
Had the rate of deaths been maintained at the same level as immediately after the introduction of the points system 255 fewer people (78 per annum) would have died on Irish roads since then, according to the Society of Actuaries in Ireland (SAI).
The report found that although 2003 had the lowest number of road deaths in almost 40 years there has been a reversal in that trend since 2004.
"The downward trend is somewhat masked by the relatively strong growth in population, and very strong growth in car ownership. The number of deaths per car has fallen by almost 70 per cent over the last 25 years," the society said.
However, even in 2003 the report found that the number of deaths per car in Ireland was 70 per cent higher than in the UK.
According to the society Ireland appears to be lagging about 10 years behind the UK in terms of road safety. "This shows just how far we have to go to match EU best practice," it said.
A total of 276 people have died on Irish roads since the beginning of the year.