Seventy-one people have died on the State’s roads in 2016

A total of 71 people have died on the Republic's roads so far this year, 13 more than the same period last year, according to provisional figures from An Garda Síochána.

Drivers were the largest group of deaths, with 35 killed.

This was followed by 15 pedestrians, 11 passengers, seven motorcyclists and three cyclists.

Last year, 58 people were killed on the roads up to May 27th.

While An Garda Síochána is set to significantly expand its privatised speed camera system, Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune, a member of the EU Parliament's Transport Committee, is pushing for the introduction of different solutions.

Ms Clune is advocating the introduction of “speed assistance technology”, a system which automatically slows vehicles to the speed limit.

According to Ms Clune, a 2014 Norwegian study found the technology to be the “most effective” way to save lives on the roads.

“I have been pushing for technology like this, and auto-braking systems, to be made standard features in all new cars produced in the EU,” she said.

eCall

Another technological innovation is eCall, an automatic emergency call system for motor vehicles.

In the event of the driver or passengers being incapacitated in a crash, eCall will call the emergency services and identify the location of the vehicle.

Carmakers have to install the technology in all new car and van models from March 31st, 2018, onwards.