The government is aiming to reduce the number of road deaths to 124 per year by 2020. Last year, 162 people lost their lives on Irish roads.

The target is contained in the government's fourth Road Safety Strategy, Closing the Gap, which has just been launched. It is also aiming to reduce the number of serious injuries arising from road accidents to 330 per year by 2020.

Last year, there were 485 serious injuries on Irish roads.

According to the Department of Transport, these target figures will close the gap between Ireland and other best performing countries in relation to road accidents, including the UK, Holland and Sweden.

Commenting on the strategy, Transport Minister, Leo Varadkar, pointed out that Ireland has already made ‘huge advances' in this area and was the fifth safest country in the EU in 2011.

"Ireland also outperformed the EU average in reducing road fatalities by 12% in 2012," he noted.

However, Minister Varadkar said he was ‘very concerned' about the high number of road deaths that have occurred since the beginning of this year.

"The fatalities have increased on the same period in 2012 and while it is too early in the year to try to identify patterns, it does serve to demonstrate that we must continue to be vigilant when using the roads. It is a stark reminder to us all that we cannot become complacent where road safety is concerned," he said.

The Road Safety Authority will be responsible for the overall implementation of the strategy, which includes 144 specific actions aimed at reducing road deaths. Key measures contained in the strategy include:
-Assessing the feasibility of using ‘alcolocks' to immobilise vehicles if a person is driving over the drink drive limit
-Rehabilitation/driving awareness courses for repeat offenders will be considered
-Regular audits of road markings, signage and accident blackspots are recommended
-Breakdown kits for cars will be made compulsory

Commenting on the strategy, Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, noted that during the last strategy, ‘the people of Ireland showed what can be achieved when a concerted effort is made to improve behaviour on the roads'.

"Enforcement of road traffic laws will continue to play a critical role in the new strategy as the Gardai seeks to ensure that fewer lives are lost and serious injuries sustained as a result of preventable tragedies," he added.