The National Safety Council and An Garda Síochána have unveiled a winter road safety campaign to try and tackle the rising death toll, which has reached 317 to date this year.
The "Arrive Alive" campaign is aimed at vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists who make up a third of this year's fatalities.
Irish Insurance Federation Vice President John O'Neill
Mr John O'Neill, vice president of the Irish Insurance Federation, which is sponsoring the campaign, and chief executive of Axa Ireland said the holiday season should be a time of celebration for families.
"Unfortunately it can be a lonely time, a tragic time," he said. "For almost 400 extended families in Ireland this will be the case - 400 people will not be sitting down for Christmas dinner this year, and perhaps the real tragedy is that we could have prevented half of these empty chairs if the political will and interest was there to change the status quo.
"We must have the support of the Government to do what they said they would do and implement the Road Safety Strategy," he said.
National Safety Campaign chairman Mr Eddie Shaw said that of the 317 deaths on Ireland's roads so far in 2005, 13 per cent were pedestrians, 3 per cent were cyclists and 16 per cent were motorcyclists.
"The objective of this safety drive is to reduce the number of pedestrian, cyclist and motorcyclist fatalities on Irish roads this winter, but also in the run up to, and during, the high-risk October Bank Holiday weekend.
Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy also urged the public to take extra precautions to ensure their safety during winter.