By Omar Bihmidine
By Omar Bihmidine
Morocco World News
Sidi Ifni, Morocco, May 31, 2012
The occurrence of accidents in Morocco is growing frighteningly day after day, culminating in a large number of deaths and casualties. Starting from May 21 to May 27, 21 persons died and 1209 others injured due to car accidents. 80 of them sustained serious injuries.
the Directorate General of National Security attributes the soaring percentage of accidents to several reasons, including mainly high speed, inattentiveness of both pedestrians and drivers, breaking the rules of giving way, disobeying the sign posts, crossing the white line, driving under the influence of alcohol, running a red light and driving on the wrong side of the road.
With regard to the surveillance precautions and strict operationalisation of fines, the Department of Security in question reported 17573 road infractions, resulting in 10260 files being reported to the Public Prosecutions, which in turn charged and imposed 7313 fines.
Every year between 60,000 and 70,000 traffic accidents occur in the country, which result in the death of an average of 4000 death. The estimated cost of these accidents to the State’s budget is 11 billion dirhams ($1,5 billion), which represents between 2 and 2% of the country’s GDP.
