There's been an increase in the number of deaths on the roads over the past year.

The numbers are up 4 percent in 2019, compared to 2018.

New figures from the Road Safety Authority show up to 1pm on New Year's Eve, a total of 148 people died on Ireland's roads.

That's compared to 142 lives lost in 2018 - an increase of 4 percent.

There's been a rise in the number of drivers killed, up 45%, compared to 2018.

However, the statistics show there's been a sharp drop in pedestrian deaths in 2019, down 36%, while passenger deaths, have fallen by 20%.

There was one more motorcyclist death in 2019, but an overall analysis shows there was a 23% reduction in vulnerable road user deaths.