The Garda will begin its June bank holiday road safety campaign at midnight tonight, promising a particular focus on speeding, drunk driving and non-wearing of seatbelts. The campaign runs until midnight on Monday.
The Garda said enforcement activities would be visible on all the road networks, with particular emphasis on collision-prone locations in each Garda division. Checkpoints will also be operated in each division over the weekend.
Two people died on the roads during the June bank holiday period last year, compared to five deaths in 2002.
A Garda statement said: "Motorists are reminded to drive carefully, at the appropriate speed and ensure that all drivers and occupants wear their seat belts on all journeys."
It added: "Never ever drink and drive. Anybody who witnesses suspected drunken driving should contact the Gardaí immediately."
This year's road death figures are a cause of concern for road safety campaigners. They show 152 people have died to date, compared to 138 at the same time last year. On one recent weekend, 11 people died in road traffic accidents in Ireland, including Northern Ireland. Almost all of them were men aged between 18 and 30. Seven young men died on another weekend earlier this year.
In its Arrive Aliveroad safety campaign launched yesterday, the National Safety Council said that inappropriate and excessive speed was a contributory factor in approximately 40 per cent of fatal crashes in Ireland.
"This means that speed related crashes could contribute to the death of about 150 people each year, serious injury to about 600 people each year and minor injury to over 3,000 people each year. The estimated cost to the community of speed related crashes could be about €355 million a year," the NSC said.
AA Roadwatch said today it was supporting the NSC campaign and also urged motorists to slow down and "arrive alive" this weekend.
"Road safety is a serious concern on long weekends," said AA Roadwatch controller Ms Emma Caulfield.
"Many of us will be driving long distances that we are not accustomed to, however, speeding is never the solution and now more than ever motorists should observe the speed limits, first and foremost in the interest of safety, but also so as not to clock up penalty points."