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Rabat – As traffic deaths continue to rise at a troubling pace, Moroccan authorities have unveiled an emergency road safety program to address growing concerns over public safety during the summer season.
Nasser Boulaajoul, Director General of the National Road Safety Agency (NARSA), presented the outline of the plan on Monday in Rabat.
The strategy pairs stepped-up enforcement with targeted outreach and education efforts, aiming to prevent further loss of life and instill a stronger sense of responsibility among road users.
Surge in deaths draws alarm
Official figures paint a grim picture. In 2024, traffic accidents claimed the lives of 4,024 people, up 5.37% from the previous year. The number of serious injuries reached over 10,000, while bodily injury accidents surged to more than 143,000 cases.
The first half of 2025 has shown an even sharper rise. Between January and May alone, 1,624 people died on Moroccan roads, marking a 20.9% increase compared to the same period last year. Over 4,000 others suffered severe injuries, a rise of more than 21%.
Pedestrians and motorcyclists remain the most exposed. Together, they account for nearly 70% of the fatalities, pedestrians make up over a quarter of the deaths, and motorcyclists nearly half.
On-the-ground enforcement takes priority
The summer safety plan places a strong emphasis on field control. Authorities intend to tighten surveillance on dangerous roads by combining portable, fixed, and autonomous radars.
Teams will monitor violations more closely and inspect public transport vehicles both at their points of departure and in major tourist zones.
Emergency response units will operate in accident-prone areas, where delays or neglect often worsen the impact of crashes.
A special summer operations committee will oversee daily field activity and update maps of high-risk zones based on the latest accident data.
NARSA will also run direct awareness campaigns across ports, bus stations, public spaces, and markets, places where people often overlook basic safety habits.
Eight major cities will host “Road Safety Villages,” mobile caravans designed to engage communities. These events will include live accident simulations, interactive workshops, and educational spaces tailored to children and teenagers.
New rules, smart surveillance
Authorities have also introduced new regulatory measures. Vehicle ownership transfers will no longer proceed if drivers owe fines for serious traffic violations. Motorcycles over 50cc will face new technical inspections, a move meant to address the high number of accidents involving two-wheelers.
Urban areas will see wider deployment of smart surveillance cameras capable of automatically detecting violations. Public prosecutors have been instructed to apply stricter penalties for dangerous conduct.
The NARSA director insisted that it is part of an overall strategy grounded in prevention, control, discipline, and citizen participation.
The plan also includes a mechanism for measuring its impact, with data collected on the ground feeding directly into future decisions.
While the initiative targets the immediate threats of the summer season, its broader ambition is to change habits and attitudes that continue to put lives at risk.
