GARDAÍ HAVE appealed to young motorists to drive carefully over the Christmas period saying those in their late teens and early twenties have been over-represented in road traffic fatalities during the past year.
Assistant Commissioner Eddie Rock, who is in charge of the Garda Traffic Corps, said the unit now numbered more than 1,000 members for the first time.
Enforcement of drink-driving laws and speed limits would be more visible in the coming weeks, while motorists driving under the influence of drugs would also be targeted.
"An issue which is of concern to us is the number of young people killed on our roads," he said.
"The trends are certainly downwards overall but in looking at our analysis of what's happening on the roads the indications are that amongst young drivers, aged 18 to 24 or thereabouts, the death rate has increased this year."
While there had been a change in society's attitude towards drink driving, it was proving more difficult to deter people from speeding and using mobile phones while behind the wheel. However, the increased numbers in the Traffic Corps would enable gardaí to address those problems.
The issue of drug-driving was harder to address because there was no roadtesting device, as is the case for testing drivers for alcohol.
"The Medical Bureau of Road Safety assists us in testing samples and identify drugs where relevant in people's blood," Mr Rock said.
"It's for us then to prove, by way of impairment or the conduct of a driver, whether they are incapable of driving. We're conscious of the fact that [drug driving] is increasing." Mr Rock was speaking at Garda Headquarters in Phoenix Park at the launch of the Garda's Christmas and new year road safety campaign.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said last December was a "horrific" month for road fatalities and he urged motorists to drive carefully and to wear seatbelts in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year's holiday death rate.
"Sitting down on Christmas Day with a family member gone because of a road accident or seriously injured is not something we want to happen. We want people to drive carefully and think carefully," he said.