The number of road deaths in 2004 exceeded the toll in 2003 by 43, end-of-year statistics have shown.
Last year, 379 people were killed on the roads, compared to 336 in 2003.
The figure for last year is nearer to that of 2002 when 376 people were killed in road accidents.
This year already, three people have died on the roads. Three young men died in two separate road crashes on New Year's Day.
Gardaí in Kildare are investigating a single-vehicle collision which occurred at 3 a.m. on Saturday at Garrisker, Broadford, on the Broadford to Edenderry road.
The male driver was killed when his car hit a tree. He was named yesterday as Mr Anthony Hopkins (26) of Broadford. He had been alone in the car.
His body was taken to Naas General Hospital.
Gardai in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim, are investigating a single-vehicle collision which occurred at Glenfarne on the Sligo to Enniskillen Road at 5 a.m. on Saturday.
Two men in their late teens were killed when the van in which they were travelling hit a tree. They were taken to Manorhamilton Hospital.
The young men, both from Glenfarne, Leitrim, were named yesterday as Mr Adrian McSharry and Mr Aidan Leonard, both aged 17.
The male driver of the van and another passenger were taken to Sligo General Hospital where the driver was last night reported by the Garda to be in a serious condition.