Slow down, buckle up and don’t drink and drive is the message from the National Safety Council’s Road Safety Awareness Weekend. Almost 160 people have died on Irish roads this year.
"The best advice is to take it easy, respect speed limits and do not try to make up time lost in tailbacks by speeding on the open road," says Ms Emma Caulfield of AA Roadwatch.
But it is the busiest bank holiday weekend of the year so expect delays. Traffic out of cities has been building up since lunchtime.
The weekend’s sporting fixtures will also cause traffic problems around Dublin. Tomorrow is Ireland’s world cup qualifier against Portugal at Landsdown Road and on Monday women joggers will take to city’s streets as hundreds take part in the Women’s Mini Marathon.
Gardaí are advising of traffic and parking restrictions around the city from 6 a.m. on Monday. The main roads affected will be Pembroke Street, the St Stephen’s Green area, Upper Fitzwilliam St, Fitzwilliam Place, Merrion Square East, Merrion Street and Lower Leeson Street.
The AA Roadwatch is warning motorists intending to travel into Dublin on the N7 that the Davitt Road along the canal is closed to inbound traffic. They advise taking the M50 or Longmile Road into the city as an alternative.
Other events this weekend are the Cats Laugh Festival in Kilkenny, the Carrick-on-Shannon Community and Arts Festival and the Lexlip Salmon Festival.
Weatherwise, expect a bright, but cool weekend with temperatures reaching 17 degrees tomorrow.