Road deaths were at the lowest level this year since records began.
A total of 212 people were killed on Irish roads this year, compared to 238 last year. Some 396 people lost their lives on Irish roads in 2005.
Ten people died on Irish roads during this month, down from 18 in December 2009.
The new network of Garda mobile safety cameras was rolled out on roads all across Ireland this year. They are being employed at known traffic blackspots where high speed has been a factor in crashes.
Assistant Commissioner for Traffic John Twomey said gardaí would focus on driver behaviour next year to further reduce the number of deaths.
“The individual decisions of road users all over the country this year to change their behaviour have had a profound impact, resulting in reductions in death and serious injuries on our roads,” he said.
Mr Twomey said it was “gratifying” to see that most road users are taking notice of road safety messages and changing their behaviour.
“Motorists must exercise personal responsibility and drivers should slow down and remember that as a general rule a 1km/h decrease in average speed results in a 2 per cent reduction in minor injury collisions, a 3 per cent reduction in serious injury collisions and a 4 per cent reduction in fatal collisions.”