Two road safety events targeting young drivers were held yesterday as gardaí said more than 166,000 people have been caught speeding so far this year, and four out of 10 people killed on the road were aged between 17 and 25.
One of the road safety events, at the Sligo Institute of Technology, was held just 15 minutes' drive from the site of yesterday's double fatality in Moneygold.
As part of the campaign being held in advance of the World Rally Championship in the northwest next week, 376 white crosses were erected at the entrance to the institute, commemorating the 376 people who died on Irish roads last year.
As 376 students dressed in white T-shirts lay down in the college car park at lunchtime, the president of the students' union at the institute, Daniel McGarrigle, reminded those present that the tragedies had not stopped. A minute's silence was held for the young man and the woman who died in the two-car collision yesterday at Moneygold, Grange, Co Sligo.
"These people died just a 15-minute drive away," said Mr McGarrigle.
At the Waterford Institute of Technology, gardaí and other emergency services created a mock accident scene in front of 1,000 students to launch safety awareness week at the institute.
Deputy president and welfare officer at the students' union, Conor Doyle, who organised the event yesterday, said: "We hope that our students who have seen the demonstration and the Garda roadshow will basically wake up when they get into a car, whether they be a driver or a passenger."
Some 278 pairs of shoes lining the steps to the institute yesterday served as a reminder of the number of people killed on Irish roads since January 1st.
The road safety events came as the Garda superintendent with responsibility for road policy and safety, Chief Supt John Farrelly, revealed road traffic offences from January 1st up to Monday evening last.
More than 166,000 (166,670) incidents of speeding have been detected nationally since the start of the year, with 8,216 detections coming out of the Waterford-Kilkenny area.
In excess of 15,000 drunk drivers were caught on Irish roads in the 10-month period.
The number of motorists caught using mobile phones in the period stood at 26,347, while 4,173 seat belt detections were recorded around the country since January 1st.
Four out of 10 road fatalities involve people aged 17-25, according to gardaí.