Seven people died in road accidents within a 12-hour period over the weekend, leading to urgent appeals to drivers to be cautious, particularly during Christmas. Road safety organisations repeated calls to drivers to reduce speed and avoid alcohol in hazardous weather.
A Garda spokesman said the severe weather, particularly in the west, could have contributed to some of the accidents at the weekend.
Three people died in a two-car accident at Balrickard, outside Headford, Co Galway, on Sunday at 5.20 p.m. They were Mr Shane O'Sullivan (19), of Clonee, Headford, the driver of one car, Mr John Mulroe (22), of Headford, the driver of the other car, and Ms Philomena Flaherty (18), of Corndulla, Headford, who was a passenger in Mr Mulroe's car.
Just 25 minutes later a man in his 50s was killed in an accident on the road between the village of Neale and Ballinrobe in Co Mayo. He was Mr Finbar Kelly, of Maryland, Castlebar. His wife was said to be seriously injured and is in Mayo General Hospital.
In a two-car collision at Polehore, Killurin, Co Wexford, Mr Patrick Doyle (18), of Bree, Enniscorthy, was fatally injured. The accident happened at around 12.10 p.m.
At 3.15 a.m. yesterday a woman was killed when the car in which she was a passenger hit a telephone pole near Dundalk. She was Ms Lorraine McGuinness (27), of Aisling Park, Coxs Demesne, Dundalk.
In Dublin a 43-year-old woman died in the Mater Hospital yesterday following an accident on Sunday in which she was knocked down on Clontarf Road.
The Garda Siochana has issued a provisional figure, 435, of the number of deaths so far this year but stressed that it was an estimate. This compares with 453 in 1996; 437 in 1995; 404 in 1994; 431 in 1993; 415 in 1992; 445 in 1991; and 478 in 1990.
The weekend's high death toll has again highlighted the dangers of reckless driving, particularly over Christmas, when weather conditions are bad.
An Automobile Association spokesman said nobody knew the cause of the weekend accidents but road safety statistics were generally worsening. The AA attributed this to a boom in car ownership and to a poor national attitude problem. People were casual about driving, whether it was using cell phones during driving or speeding. Drivers had become complacent.
Per capita the road accident deaths in this country were far higher than Britain. There was no reason the statistics should be markedly worse here, he said.
"We reiterate our appeal and urge drivers to slow down. The gardai are dealing with drink-driving but we would add our voice to that and ask drivers not to take the risk. Those two factors will almost certainly kill people in the coming weeks," the spokesman said.
A spokesman for the National Safety Council said at this time of year weather conditions were hazardous and greater care should be taken.
"Generally, speed is the No 1 factor in causing road accidents and drink-driving is No 2. Up to 40 per cent of road accidents are alcohol-related," he said.
The message from the Dublin Road Safety Council for the Christmas period is: "Think ahead, book a taxi, take a bus, get the DART or train, and if with a group, nominate a driver to stay sober. If entertaining at home look after your guests, if necessary send them home by taxi, or put them up for the night."
He was laying cables when it appeared he moved off the central reservation and was hit by a passing car.
He was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name has not been released.