Road users are being urged to take into account the colder, wetter and darker weather if they are making any trips this bank holiday weekend.

According to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), October is seen as a ‘high risk' month, with 15 people losing their lives on Irish roads in October 2011. Three of these lives were lost over the Halloween bank holiday weekend.

The authority reminded people that with the clocks going back this weekend, there will be fewer hours of daylight. It called on vulnerable road users in particular, such as pedestrians and cyclists, ‘to make themselves as visible as possible when on unlit or poorly lit roads'.

The RSA said that there will be a strong Garda presence on the country's roads this weekend, with a particular focus being placed on those driving with a learner permit. As well as having their L plates on display, these drivers are legally obliged to have a fully qualified driver with them at all times.

However, four Garda operations carried out this year have found that non-compliance with this rule is ‘unacceptably high'.

Meanwhile, the authority also called on motorists to get ‘winter ready' and prepare their vehicles now for the cold weather ahead. This includes having their tyres, lights and wipers checked.

"Every road user must have already noticed the change in weather. It is colder, wetter and certainly darker for longer. Our message is to each and every road user to take all necessary steps to protect themselves no matter how they use the roads," commented Assistant Garda Commissioner, Gerard Phillips.

He added that drivers should always adjust their speed to take into account the conditions they are driving in.