Rabat – Morocco is preparing to upgrade its road safety regulations with the introduction of two new draft decrees aimed at amending and expanding existing laws on vehicles and traffic regulations.
The initiative is spearheaded by Minister of Transport and Logistics Mohamed Abdeljalil in response to the rising influx of new transportation methods on public roads.
Abdeljalil outlined the key provisions of these draft decrees while speaking at a recent meeting of the Committee on Infrastructure, Energy, Mines, and Environment at the House of Representatives.
He stressed a series of measures designed to boost current safety regulations, which include short-term projects and long-term strategic initiatives focused on managing and reducing road hazards.
Regarding immediate action plans, Abdeljalil tackled the establishment of a structured framework designed to oversee the integration of new transportation modes, such as scooters, onto public roads.
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Efforts have also been made to elevate public transport’s quality and amplify road safety through initiatives like safety-enhanced bicycles and buses.
He emphasized the activation of regional road safety commissions chaired by local authorities, tasked with implementing national safety strategies tailored to regional needs.
These efforts include launching a study to evaluate the outcomes of the first five-year plan from 2017 to 2021, as well as assessing achievements in 2022 and 2023.
Abdeljalil’s ministry is in the process of developing a new action plan for the upcoming period, defining the strategic direction of the National Road Safety Agency (NARSA) for 2024-2028, and preparing a national charter.
At the regional level, there has been a revitalized approach to coordinating road safety management across regions.
This includes activating regional road safety commissions chaired by governors to implement the National Road Safety Strategy at both regional and local levels.
He also mentioned the development and approval of regional road safety action plans for 10 regions under the chairmanship of the Governors, in addition to implementing a system for managing and monitoring projects outlined in the regional road safety plans.
According to NARSA data, road fatalities on the regional network totaled 359 deaths in 2023, representing 19.2% of rural fatalities and a 11.14% decrease from 2021.
Meanwhile, the provincial network reported 559 deaths, accounting for 29.9% of rural fatalities and representing an 8.21% decrease from 2021.
