Ireland is reportedly a decade off target in its efforts to halve the number of people who lose their lives in road accidents.
The European Commission has set 2010 as the date for achieving the target.
Reports this morning say the latest assessment by the European Transport Safety Council has found that Ireland achieved one of the highest reductions in road deaths last year.
However, the council says Ireland and several other European countries will not achieve the EC target until after 2020.
Only three countries are expected to do so within the envisaged timeframe.