The number of people killed on the State's roads this year passed 100 yesterday. Six deaths since last Friday night brought the death toll for the year so far to 102, four more than at the same point last year.
A driver was killed in Co Louth when the car he was driving went out of control and caught fire yesterday morning.
The incident happened at Rassan on the main Dundalk to Castleblayney road at about 9.30am, and the victim's body was removed to Louth County Hospital in Dundalk.
Forensic specialists were yesterday examining the charred shell of the car, which they hoped to identify by its chassis markings. A Garda spokesman said its driver had not yet been identified, but asked witnesses to contact Hackballscross Garda station at 042-9377142 or Dundalk Garda station at 042-9388400.
Meanwhile, a man and a woman in their 20s died in a single-car crash in Co Westmeath. Gardaí believe the blue Fiat Bravo in which they were travelling left the road and hit a wall at the Department of Education buildings in Cormaddy, Athlone, early yesterday.
The incident was reported at 7.30am, though gardaí said the crash could have happened as early as 1am. Gardaí last night named the victims as Kathryn Devaney (24), from Athlone, and Declan McCormack (27), Ballykeeran, Co Westmeath. Witnesses are asked to contact Athlone Garda station at 090 6498550.
Michael Reid, aged 62 of Kinsale, Co Cork, died in Kilkenny General Hospital from injuries he received in a car crash in Co Tipperary on Sunday afternoon.
He was the second person to die as a result of the two-car collision which occurred on the N8 Dublin to Cork road near Urlingford. Geraldine Rafferty (45) from Ballinlough Road, Co Cork, died at the scene.
While welcoming the introduction of 31 new penalty points offences yesterday, Labour's transport spokeswoman Róisín Shortall said the spate of road crashes over the weekend showed the urgent need for further measures to improve road safety.
"Road deaths are not inevitable, and more can be done to prevent further carnage . . .
"There are far too many unqualified drivers - as many as 400,000 - on our roads without a full licence. This is primarily due to the long waiting lists in driving test centres. We need immediate action to clear that backlog, and nothing should hold that up," she said.
"There is a major problem with drink-driving. The gardaí already have significant powers when it comes to random breath-testing, but the Government needs to [ give] them clear direction on this," she added.
The funeral takes place in Bruff, Co Limerick, today of a teenage boy who died in a traffic collision involving a former Irish rugby international.
Kevin Walsh (16), of Bruff, died on Saturday morning after a jeep struck the car in which he was a back-seat passenger near Toomevara, Co Tipperary.
Former rugby international Eddie Halvey (36) was brought to Nenagh Garda station where he was charged and later released on bail. Gardaí have confirmed that a file is being prepared for the DPP on other matters in relation to the crash.