This year will be the worst for road deaths since 1998 if the rate of deaths continues at the current level of over one a day.

Already in 2006, 135 people have died in road accidents, the latest in Cavan on Friday night. This month alone, 36 people have lost their lives on Irish roads, making it the worst April for road fatalities since 2000. Road deaths are now up by 17% on 2005, with 19 more people dead than this time last year.

Byrne told the Sunday Tribune that he has a "full post bag" following his appointment to the high-profile position, as members of the public have flooded him with suggestions as to how to solve the crisis of carnage on Ireland's roads.

"The politicians are right in thinking that the people care greatly about this issue because I've been inundated with post from members of the public who all have his or her own separate theory as to what should be done, " Byrne said.

"The response has also been extremely complimentary. I've received good wishes for the whole undertaking."

The new authority which Byrne heads has been allocated a budget of 30m and a staff of 300. He has urged the Irish public to be patient and realistic with the progress that he hopes the Road Safety Authority will make.

"Unfortunately, some people think it can be done in two weeks, but it can't, " he said.

"It's a long process and we have years of bad practice to undo."

Operation Lifesaver, the garda clampdown on motoring offenses, was in full effect this May bank holiday weekend, with checkpoints increased across the country until Tuesday night. In the past five years, 27 people have died over May bank holiday weekends. Nine lives were lost over the most recent bank holiday during Easter. Byrne has appealed to motorists to reduce their speed by five kilometres if driving this weekend.

But he said ultimately enforcement was one of the main issues facing the RSA and that that his approach will be a "combination of carrot and stick. Enforcement of course is key, which we've heard again and again."

Gardai have warned drivers that the likelihood of being caught while drink- driving has increased. Arrests for drinkdriving have risen by 18% this year.

Byrne said that he fully agreed with transport minister Martin Cullen's view that outsourcing driving tests is the only viable way to solve the problem of waiting lists and massive numbers of learner drivers on the road.

"That's the only way it can possibly be done, " he said. "There's a two-year backlog that must be cleared. Union representatives of testers have a problem with that, but we're just going to have to get through it."

The government has also launched a new road safety advertisement campaign to coincide with this May bank holiday weekend. The new ads are aimed at improving driver behaviour.

Gardai to issue road safety booklets in eight languages GARDAI are to distribute booklets in at least eight languages explaining the rules of the road and offering advice for best driving practices in Ireland.

The move comes amid growing concern over the number of non-nationals dying on Irish roads, with eastern Europeans now accounting for roughly 15% of fatalities.

According to chief superintendent John Farrelly, head of the Garda National Traffic Bureau, the booklets will aim to encourage non-Irish drivers to familiarise themselves with Irish driving culture. Aside from the high number of nonIrish deaths on the roads, Farrelly says there is "a sizeable number" of eastern Europeans being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

However, he also says that Irish car users are driving under the influence at increasing rates.

"We have seen an 18% increase in the number of people arrested for drink-driving this year, and that follows from a 15% increase last year, so it is obvious that this is a big problem, " said Farrelly. "Some people think they won't be caught, but others seem to think that alcohol doesn't affect their ability to drive, which is totally ridiculous. People are dying because of this sense of bravado."

Farrelly said that a "feel-good factor" surrounding bank holiday weekends traditionally leads to people acting carelessly on the roads or driving home from the pub.