Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority Moyagh Murdock has called on road users to obey the rules of the road and to never drink and drive to prevent further deaths on the roads this summer.

Speaking following the deaths of nine people on Irish roads over the last nine days, Ms Murdock said progress was made last year when the number of people killed on roads here fell.

However, the recent deaths mean that the first half of this year has seen five more fatalities than the same period in 2017.

Fourteen people have been killed on the country's roads so far this month. It brings to 75 the total number of road fatalities here so far this year.

Ms Murdock said that while not commenting on the recent crashes, summer often sees an increase in the number of people killed on the roads and most road deaths are entirely preventable.

She called on everyone using the roads to respect the speed limits.

She said that during the summer people are often out of their routine and on unfamiliar roads and sometimes take chances they normally would not, such as taking a drink and getting behind the wheel of a car.

Ms Murdock called on everyone to respect the rules of the road and other users, and for drivers to pass pedestrians and cyclists with care.

She also called on cyclists and pedestrians to wear high visibility clothing to ensure they are seen.