The Garda and the Road Safety Authority have urged motorists and other road users to take extra care on their journeys this Easter bank holiday weekend.
Last year, ten people were killed on Irish roads between Holy Thursday night and Easter Monday. There had been 25 fatal crashes resulting in 30 deaths and 300 serious injuries during the Easter bank holiday weekend over the past five years.
Gardaí will be carrying out "significant" enforcement of speeding offences over the weekend, they warned.
Garda spokesman
"An Garda Síochána continues to be concerned about the level of road deaths and injuries countrywide, and therefore all road users are asked to be vigilant and to take all necessary steps to ensure their safety and the safety of others," a Garda spokesman said.
"Speeding is the single greatest cause of deaths and injuries on our roads. Drivers are urged to slow down."
The Garda said a 1 km/h decrease in average speed results typically in a 3 per cent decrease in road crash frequency. The second greatest cause of road deaths, which often combines with speeding, is drink driving.
"Roadside alcohol screening in conjunction with evidential breath testing is helping to reduce road traffic casualties to a significant extent and enforcement will be kept at optimum levels," the Garda spokesman said.
The Garda has also urged people intending to consume alcohol to designate a driver or to use public transport.
Pedestrians are advised to wear high-visibility clothing, walk facing oncoming traffic and use footpaths, pedestrian and designated crossings where available. To date in 2007 there have been 29 pedestrians killed on the State's roads, compared to 21 for the corresponding period last year.
Minister for Transport Martin Cullen also called for road users to take great care over the holiday weekend.
"Everyone of us has a role to play in road safety; children reminding their parents to wear their seatbelts; pedestrians and cyclists ensuring they are more visible; drivers being mindful of road conditions, obeying speed limits and not drinking and driving; the Gardaí in enforcing the law and the Government in making the law," he said.
"Speed is the number one killer behaviour on our roads. It is the main contributory factor in two out of every five of fatal collisions. So, we all need to first of all ensure that we are driving within the speed limit," said Road Safety Authority chief executive Noel Brett.
On the entertainment front for Easter weekend, a Disney on Ice event takes place at the Point Theatre in Dublin from today until Sunday April 15th. Several shows a day will feature Disney characters such as Cinderella, Mulan and Sleeping Beauty.
For those determined to sit in traffic rather than hanging out in the garden this weekend, the RTE House Hunters in the Sunevent takes place at the RDS Simmonscourt in Ballsbridge from tomorrow until Monday.
More than 330,000 passengers are expected to travel through Dublin airport between Friday and Monday. More than 45,000 passengers are expected to travel through Shannon Airport over the weekend. Around 300 flights will arrive and depart during the period and increase of about 10 per cent on last year.
Passengers are advised to arrive at check-in at least 90 minutes before their flight departure time.
Trains and buses to and from the major towns and cities will also be busy from early this afternoon.
There will be no Dublin Bus Nitelink service on Good Friday night, but otherwise the normal service will operate, with the regular Monday to Thursday hours applying on Easter Sunday.
Iarnród Éireann said trains will begin serving the new Adamstown station on April 10th.
Weather-wise, Met Éireann predicts dry and settled conditions through most of the weekend. There should be good spells of warm sunshine on Saturday and Sunday with cooler conditions on Monday, especially in northern areas and possibly a small amount of rain.
Expect delays. Expect tailbacks. Expect to get very hot and bothered in your car. But expect - if you're lucky enough - to escape the drudgery of work for a few days.