The Republic has the highest level of child pedestrian deaths in the EU, according to statistics released by the Irish Red Cross.
The organisation published the figures yesterday as children returned to school after the summer holidays and in advance of European First Aid Day next week.
National Safety Council statistics show 24 children aged under 14 were killed on the roads in 2001 - 11 pedestrians, 11 car passengers, and two cyclists.
A further 700 under-14-year-olds were injured in road accidents. The Irish Red Cross insisted action had to be taken to reduce the number of child deaths and injuries.
Vice-chairman, Mr Tony Lawlor, said: "Due to their small size, children are the most vulnerable road users. The approach of simply teaching them the Green Cross code is inadequate.
"It was used in the 70s and 80s but it's not enough today. Adults, particularly adult motorists, must change their behaviour. Drivers need to slow down. Adults must ensure children 'belt up' when in cars and that children on bicycles wear helmets."
A total of 376 people were killed on the Republic's roads last year. The road death rate is 11 per 100,000 people, almost twice that of Britain based on population figures.
The Irish Red Cross will hold road safety demonstrations as part of European First Aid Day on September 13th.
There will be first aid displays and mock traffic accidents, complete with "fatalities" and "casualties" at 46 venues across the State including Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Dundalk, and Drogheda.
According to the Irish Red Cross, more than three-quarters of people surveyed believed they could deal with burns, choking, and deep cuts.
However, Mr Lawlor doubted this was an accurate reflection.
"Our experience would suggest that only 3 per cent of the Irish population have first aid skills compared to around 10 per cent of people in Scandinavia and Germany.
"People often find the situation so traumatic that they can't act. It can be very difficult if it's a relative - particularly a child - who needs help. People just tend to freeze."
Mr Lawlor said surveys by the French and Lithuanian Red Cross organisations showed that over 85 per cent of passers-by were prepared to drive by an accident when people clearly needed help.
"This is very shocking. There are no figures for Ireland but I suspect they wouldn't be any different. If people don't feel confident about first aid, they won't get involved," he said.
Mr Lawlor suggested people attend the wide range of first aid classes beginning in the autumn across the Republic. "A course takes a total of only 12 hours and it could save lives," he said.
The Irish Red Cross said that National Safety Council research showed fatality rates for pedestrians in winter were double those in summer. Short, every-day journeys - to school or the shops - on local routes were the biggest killer and cause of injury.
Children in cars are more likely to survive a road accident if they are wearing seat-belts or are properly restrained in a car seat, Mr Lawlor said. More than three-quarters of children who died in cars weren't wearing seat- belts.
The Irish Red Cross also published figures for traffic accidents in Europe. Two child passengers are killed every day on European roads.
Around half of children in Europe are not restrained, or not restrained adequately, in cars. Nearly six people are killed every hour on European roads - 52,000 every year.