Nine people have lost their lives this week, bringing the total number of road fatalities to 159 in 2016.

The latest fatality was a 19-year-old man in Cork who was killed when the car he was driving crashed into a wall in Charleville last night.

Ahead of the bank holiday weekend, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the Gardái have teamed up to launch a safety campaign.

"A particular concern is the number of cars out there with broken lights", Brian Farrel from the RSA said. "It's really critical that drivers look after their vehicle maintenance and make sure that their cars are fit for purpose.

Transport Minister Shane Ross says the situation on the roads is almost at crisis level. 

"We cannot be complacent", he said. "It's time to ring the alarm bells, and say we cannot tolerate this situation any longer".

“It’s a product of many factors, but it’s not satisfactory."

Anyone with information on the crash in Cork is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station 022-31450 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.