Two road fatalities yesterday brought to 79 the number of people killed on the roads so far this year. This is an increase of 25 on last year, according to the National Safety Council.
The figures were released yesterday at the launch of an anti-speeding campaign to run until St Patrick's Day next Wednesday. The NSC and gardaí said it formed part of the continuing "Operation Lifesaver".
The young man killed in Malahide yesterday morning has been named as Mr Christopher O'Toole of Edenmore Avenue, Coolock. Mr O'Toole (19), died after a car accident at Kinsealy Lane at 2.45 a.m. Meanwhile, gardaí in Donegal are investigating the death of a 59-year-old woman whose car crashed into a ditch at Gleneely, Co Donegal yesterday morning.
The elderly man killed on Thursday when crossing the road in Turloughmore village, Co Galway, has been named as Mr William Murphy, (84), from Turloughmore.
NSC chief executive, Mr Pat Costello, said it had been a bad year for road safety. "The key objective for the next few days is that there will be thousands of drivers on the roads in the context of the St Patrick's holiday.
"We're appealing to drivers to stop speeding and that is the key message," he said. Gardaí would be out in force as part of Operation Lifesaver, he added. Chief Supt Denis Fitzpatrick, head of the Garda National Traffic Bureau, said a quarter of all road deaths could be prevented if drivers slowed down.
For those who persisted in speeding the message was simple: "You will be caught, will be fined, will receive penalty points, and could eventually lose your licence," he said.
Mr Costello said: "There are only three offences at the moment under the system and they were for speeding, no insurance and lack of seat-belts but there are 69 offences to which points can be applied, provided for in the legislation," he said.
It was up to the Minister for Transport to introduce these as soon as possible, he added.