Three people have died in road accidents over the weekend bringing the number of fatalities on the roads to 333 this year.
The accidents, in Co Tipperay, Co Kerry and Co Kildare, occurred as it emerged that the Government is to set an ambitious target of reducing road deaths by 25 per cent or to below 300 annually. The target will be contained in a new three-year strategy, to be announced next month.
An elderly man died yesterday evening after the car he was driving was involved in a head-on collision at Lisronagh, near Clonmel, Co Tipperary at about 6.30 p.m.
A passenger in his car was injured as were a couple and two children in the other vehicle. All the injured were removed to Cashel hospital.
In Co Kerry, Mr Thomas Herlihy jnr (31), died following a collision between his car and a four-wheel drive vehicle at Gortanahaneboy West, Rathmore, Co Kerry, at 12.30 a.m. on Saturday.
Mr Herlihy, from Lower Sunny Hill, Killarney, was pronounced dead on arrival at Tralee General Hospital. The driver of the other vehicle suffered minor injuries.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to a crash on Friday night in which Mr Thomas Harrington (31), Leixlip, Co Kildare died.
Mr Harrington's car was in collision with another car at about 10.20 p.m at The Maws, Maynooth. Anyone with information is asked to contact Maynooth gardaí at (01) 629 1444.
The new road strategy will include new measures such as the introduction of random breath tests. An overhaul of the provisional licensing system, including mandatory instruction, is expected to form part of the plan, which has been drawn up by a steering group of senior gardaí, the National Roads Authority and the National Safety Council.