Skip to main content

Morocco faces increasing road safety crisis

Road safety levels continue to deteriorate in Morocco, despite a series of policies introduced by the government and a tougher process of enforcement. The country has a human population of 32 million, along with 2.7 million registered vehicles and last year saw 15,000 people severely injured in road accidents, leaving them with long term disabilities.
August 8, 2012 Read time: 1 min
Road safety levels continue to deteriorate in Morocco, despite a series of policies introduced by the government and a tougher process of enforcement. The country has a human population of 32 million, along with 2.7 million registered vehicles and last year saw 15,000 people severely injured in road accidents, leaving them with long term disabilities. The Moroccan Government has been working on improving road safety but the growing vehicle population is providing a severe test, with casualties continuing to climb. The country introduced its new highway code in 2010, as part of the 10-year road safety plan that commenced in 2004. The aim of the 2004 road safety policy was to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries by 5%/year. The fatal accident rate has risen 50% since 1996 when there were 2,807 road deaths. The probability of getting killed in a road accident has risen from 5.77% in 2010 to 6.29% in 2011. With 1,508 deaths in 2011, cars are in first place in terms of user category. This is followed by pedestrians (1,141), motorbikes (923) and trucks (255).

Related Content

  • GRAA WINNER PROFILE: Dubai Traffic Accident Blackspot System Analysis
    June 2, 2020
    Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority’s (RTA) vision is “Safe and Smooth Transport for all”. With this in mind, it initiated a special project, together with an international consultant, to further improve traffic safety on its roads by enhancing the methods of treatment of blackspot locations based on best international practice.
  • 2+1 type roads – a chance to be better in road safety for Lithuania?
    January 14, 2016
    Lithuania is one of the 28 European Union countries which is seeking to have good results in road safety. However, such as wish does not looks like easy achievable. Moreover, to get away from the worst Top 6 countries in EU could not be achieved since 1991 (by the EU road accidents database - CARE).
  • New road safety plans to address Morocco’s fatality rate
    September 21, 2012
    Morocco’s Transport Ministry is proposing tougher measures to boost road safety. Following a recent coach crash that killed 43 people in Morocco, various safety issues have been highlighted. The authorities say that vehicles more than 20 years old are allowed on Morocco’s roads, subject to regular roadworthiness checks.
  • Algeria aims to improve road safety by focussing on drivers
    October 26, 2012
    A new policy by the Algerian Government aims to tackle road safety by focussing on bad driving. As part of this scheme the country is introducing a new points-based driving licence at the end of 2012. This is intended primarily as a system for teaching drivers rather than punishing them. Algeria’s regions will introduce sanctions for 24 offences that have been highlighted.