Simon Harris intends to make road safety a key priority once his election to Taoiseach is confirmed.
The new leader of Fine Gael plans to meet with the Road Safety Authority and Gardaí to address the issue of rising road deaths.
3 more people were killed in road collisions over the Bank Holiday weekend, bringing the total number of deaths this year to 58.
The incoming Taoiseach says attitudes to road safety need to change:
"Gardaí have done an excellent job over the weekend. I thanked them and Mrs McEntee for their work over the weekend but we have seen an "alarming" to use their words, number of arrests when it comes to people driving under the influence of either drink or drugs. I think we are a real risk in this country of seeing a reversal of the very significant progress that has been made over many years in relation to road safety."
Christina Donnelly's 24-year-old son Brendan, was killed in a road crash in East Cork in October 2009.
The driver of the other car was jailed after he was found to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
She criticised those who were arrested for drink and drug driving this weekend:
"They ought to be ashamed of themselves, absolutely ashamed of themselves, that's all I've got to say with all that's happening on our roads, what respect have they got for human life?"
