Rabat – Since their implementation, fixed radar systems in Morocco have detected millions of speeding violations, unveiling a staggering 11.3 million offenses over the span of 12 years, from 2010 to 2022.
The Moroccan Minister of Transport and Logistics Mohammed Ben Abdeljalil shared the data on Wednesday during a session at the House of Councillors discussing the annual report of the Court of Audit.
Ben Abdeljalil added that first and second-generation speed cameras detected a total of 8.7 million violations between 2015 and 2022.
Given the jaw-dropping figures, the minister underscored the pressing importance of road safety in the country and the need to implement effective measures to ensure safer driving conditions.
Responding to the Court of Audit’s recommendations, Ben Abdeljalil said that his ministry has taken several measures to combat the issue of speed violations.
These include accelerating the installation of 550 new-generation radars, starting in 2021, to replace the outdated radars that have a high rate of canceled violation notices.
After replacing old speed cameras with new ones, the percentage of canceled violation notices has significantly decreased, dropping from 53% in 2015 to 39% in 2021, the minister explained.
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Ben Abdeljalil said that the numbers were similar to those recorded in some European countries, resulting in overall more effective radar systems.
The Court of Audit has raised concerns about the delay in installing the new-generation radars, with the minister attributing the issue to the challenges posed by the COVID-9 pandemic.
He explained that travel restrictions during the pandemic hindered the mobility of experts responsible for the installation process. In addition, the arrival of radar devices and the issuance of or renewal of certain administrative licenses and permits for network connectivity experienced delays due to the COVID crisis.
In 2019, the Ministry of Transport upgraded its radar infrastructure, acquiring 280 American-made intelligent radars that improved the monitoring and detection of speeding violations.
