162 people have lost their lives on Irish roads this year. Almost 24,000 people have died on Irish roads since records began in 1959.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is urging drivers and pedestrians to take stock of their own safety habits while commuting, ahead of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) on Sunday.

Last year saw the first year-on-year increase in the number of road deaths in Ireland for the first time since 2005 - when 190 people lost their lives compared to 162 in 2012.

Of the 190 fatalities, there were 31 pedestrians killed, 95 drivers, 32 passengers, 27 motorcyclists and five pedal cyclists.

Interim Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan is urging people to be aware of all those on the roads.

Meanwhile the chairperson designate of the RSA Liz O'Donnell says laxity is creeping into road safety.

Ms O'Donnell attended a confirmation hearing before the Oireachtas Transport Committee after her appointment to the role by the Cabinet.

She says there was one worrying statistic in the rise in road deaths last year.

"Almost one in five drivers killed in 2013 were no wearing a seatbelt - that seems extraordinary to me, given all the work and the advocacy and the education and the enforcement of seatbelt compliance" she said.

"That is being repeated in 2014".

"So I think it just goes to show that when one thinks you have got the message across about seatbelt wearing, laxity starts creeping in again" she added.