Morocco hosts first cross-Maghreb road safety workshop
2009-02-20
Maghreb road safety officials meet in Rabat to tackle the issue of traffic accidents. "Practical solutions to bring an end to this problem exist," said the president of Prévention Routière Internationale.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 20/02/09
 [File] Road accidents cause some 4,000 deaths annually in Morocco alone. |
The first Maghreb workshop on road safety wrapped up in Rabat on Thursday (February 19th). The forum, entitled "The role of safety policies against violence on the roads", is a practical outworking of decisions taken at the eleventh session of the Maghreb council of transport ministers held in Skhirat between March 27th and March 29th, 2007.
The two-day workshop, the first of its kind, sought to bring together Maghreb officials responsible for road safety. According to many participants, the number of accidents in the region continues to rise, despite stepped-up road safety campaigns. The accidents result in higher social costs each year.
"Morocco is ready to share its experience in scientific research on road safety with the other Maghreb countries," said Moroccan Minister of Equipment and Transport Karim Ghellab.
"The problem of road traffic accidents is a complex one," he added. "So a partnership in sharing experiences is proving necessary, if there is to be an end to the slaughter taking place on the roads. Maghreb societies are very similar, and so are the problems facing the whole Maghreb. By working together, we can improve our collective performance on road safety."
In a speech delivered on his behalf at the inaugural session, Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) Secretary-General Habib Ben Yahya welcomed the workshop. Ben Yahya commended the programme put together by the Maghreb body to prevent road traffic accidents, based essentially on reinforcing practical and legislative measures concerning road safety.
"It is certainly necessary to step up controls and sanctions to limit the ever-growing problem of accidents," said Afifi Fariki, president of the Arab Road Safety Organisation, "but not to neglect a more educational approach based on raising public awareness."
UMA Director of Infrastructure Abdelkader Bouchentouf said that he found the figures for the whole of the Maghreb alarming. The average number of people killed on the roads in Morocco is about 4,000 every year, and Algeria sees almost the same number of deaths.
"Hence, the Maghreb-wide discussions that have just started in Morocco can be seen as a positive initiative, starting us down the road of tackling the proliferation of accidents," added Bouchentouf.
Bouchentouf called for there to be many more meetings and joint efforts of this kind, so that effective solutions could be found together.
"Practical solutions to bring an end to this problem exist, by getting the authorities, civil society and individuals to take responsibility," said Joop Goos, president of Prévention Routière Internationale, an international road safety organisation.
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moha Posted 2009-02-20
the main cause of the road accidents in morocco is that most cars show over 200 000 miles in their meters the government should give free tax Duane to people who import new cars so we can have new cars in our roads cars are very old and broken some times it's hard to make it to your destinations ,shame on you the minister of transportation, where the Duane money goes too ? meanwhile they have to stop the garbage that immigrants do bring from Europe .stores are closed ,our people must buy new stuff in our country ,we are sick and shamed of dirty mind of our government. We need good people who love their country Those people who stop new cars form coming in to our roads are to blame for killing innocent people in our roads and must be brought to justice .Duane is a dirty system and cares for nothing but for their personnel satisfactions…
Eng.Hasan Al-Bahkali Posted 2009-02-22
Traffic safety (road safety, vehicle safety and human safety). It is noticed that 85% of road accidents are the fault of man. Road accidents and their increasing numbers in the Arab nation require a serious attitude of order authorities, awareness-raising, then the safety of the vehicle and safety of the road. We ask God safety for everyone. Engineer Hasan Al Bahkali.
Mohamed Posted 2009-02-22
Yes, but the Moroccans need cars in order to be able to have accidents! Indeed, Moroccan car parks are the smallest there are given the number of inhabitants. So, there is nothing unusual about it having less deadly accidents than other Arab countries.
acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2009-02-22
Morocco is doing its all in order to reduce the number of traffic accidents by preventing all possibilities for this. And, the NGOs are participating in this in the spirit of solidarity and citizenship. Morocco is the number-one democratic Arab country. It has a long-term, democratic strategy and vision to resolve its problems. –Signed, Acharif Moulay Abdellah Bouskraoui.
concerned motorist Posted 2009-02-23
The issues lie in people not following the rules of the road and the police being corrupt. What good are rules which are not enforced? Police who ignore the rules themselves? Motorists who know that they can give a police offer 50 dirhams to look the other way? Morocco needs to start by paying their police enough money so that they do not need to take bribes.And by enforcing the rules equally regardless of "who" you are.
catherine Posted 2009-02-24
Road safety is the responsibility of all.There needs to be larger penalties for driving poorly.There needs to be increased fines,confiscation of unroadworthy vehicles or confiscation of peoples vehicles who have driven in a dangerous manner jeopardising peoples lives. Too many times people don't observe road rules ie creating additional lanes when they don't exist ,overtaking when they shouldn't,failing to observe traffic signals,not knowing rules of roundabouts ,excessive speeding etc.Where are the people to book and fine these poor drivers I'am sick of my childs life being endangeared when we are in the car. Stiff fines penalties and confiscation of vehicles immediate loss of licence for reckless driving thats what needs to be done.Police should fine all offenders no more letting people off or grafting.This money can then be used to fix the poor conditions of some of the roads that lead to accidents through increased revenue. As an aside trucks should be banned from certain roads because they are destroying the quality of some of the roads and they should only be allowed to use certain routes because of their weight .There sould be additional tax and registration payments for owners of trucks who ruin roads this money can then be used to help fix the roads.There needs to be tougher driving licence tests there should be a 4 stage process: Learners theoretical test on road rules.Learners permit with 100 hours of driving practice required speed limit 70km with a qualified driver then a practical driving test before getting a provisional licence. Provisional licence 2 stage process speed limit 90 km.First provisional licence 18months then computerised or theory test after completion.Second provisional licence 12 months another test.Finally full licence. TBC
catherine Posted 2009-02-24
part 2.I know that morrocco is committed to improving road saftey but there really needs to be a war of the roads in safety as the the morroccan govt says.As part 1 of my blog referred to there needs to be stricter driving rules and tests it is far to easy to get a licence without doing enough practical experience.The process suggested seems long ie 4 step licence process but it is adopted by other countries and enforced. The cost to the country in accidents and loss of life is staggeringso any improvement or investment in redeveloping the testing requirements would be worthwhile. Penalities,penalities,fines and vehicle confiscation that will work whenever people are effected in the hip pocket that will change the recklessness of peoples driving habits.Police should have revenue quotas for fines the money can be used for education and roadworks. Stricter penalties on reckless overseas drivers also needs to be enforced with immediate fines or vehicle confiscation. Vehicle confiscation sounds extreme but it does happen OS the gvt auctions the cars off for revenue generation if fines aren't paid. There also needs to be greater policing on unroadworthy vehicles and overloading with cargo or passengers.Fines and confiscation,I'm sick of being on the road with people whose lights don't work or the vehicle is too slow because it is not mechanically sound. Licences should be on a point system lose points lose licence.Action,Action,I would love to reform this system and fix the problem There seems to be alot of words and not enough tangible action. There needs to be better pedistrian education for the public and schools.Pedistrians do not observe roadrules there should be fines for jay walking. Put me on a commitee I can assist,we can all play our part not just the gvt.
Jamal Morelli Posted 2009-02-27
Moroccans are the worst drivers in the history of the car. Aggressive as Italians but without the ability to keep the car on the road. Reckless as Mumbai drivers but without the sense to realize when they are at fault. Lawless - but who needs laws when you have fat Commisariat's to pump 400 DH to if you break they laws. And don't tell that the stink of the exhaust doesn't get to you. I can smell it on my clothes driving only from Narjis to the Medina.(Fes) Driving in Morocco has one thing to commend it: If you ever wanted to know what it would be like to drive alongside inept five year olds.... your wish will come true. One other thing, we have the benefit of knowing that the appearance of a Grand Taxi will satisfy every complaint I listed above with almost no exception.
Harry Ford in England Posted 2009-02-28
The whole of the Maghreb has it's share of bad drivers but worse than that is the poor condition of many vehicles. Here in England there is a compulsory test for roadworthiness on vehicles that are more than 3 years old. This test (about £50) is very thorough. Without a certificate to prove a vehicle is safe,that vehicle cannot be used on Public Roads. All vehicles must have Compulsory Insurance. All vehicles must have a Compulsory Road Tax Display. I don't know how much 400 Dirhams is in Sterling but a basic fine for bad parking is £30-£60 here. This is regarded as a petty offence. Speeding can get you into prison under the wrong conditions. Slow Down and Save Lives!
samira Posted 2009-03-01
I am Moroccan. We always suffer from road accidents. There should be an end to this.
BEN Posted 2009-03-06
On the roads and in the towns where the police and gendarmes keep watch, there are necessarily less accidents. The tireless efforts of the Arab Road Safety Organisation in making the citizens aware of traffic violations and accidents are worth highlighting. A seminar on the road safety at a Maghreb-wide level!? You must be dreaming! When are we going to expand the scope of this dialogue? Let us have a seminar, for example, with the police, gendarmes, automobile experts, doctors, caretakers for people who became disabled from automobile accidents and so on and so on. There are so many things to tell and so many experiences to exchange among us people of the Maghreb. We will not talk politics here - that is for sure - because that is a domain reserved for people who have not ceased to relegate everyone to spinning in circles, just like they hope to do with the people of the Maghreb.
حسن مناش بنعلي Posted 2009-03-09
All previous comments as well as the comment of the sister Sara did not mention two important causes of the high road accidents in Morocco according to statements of doctors and assessment of victims by people. The first is addiction to alcohol. The second is the fake driving licence obtained through bribery. But that Mr Ghellab says there are complications, this is not true. However, in Morocco everything which comes through alcohol and drunkenness is acceptable whether it is (madness), loss of mind, chaos, interrupting the way, accidents and so on. The drunken person is a good citizen. Salam.
نادية ازريول Posted 2009-07-13
We hope this phenomenon will be eliminated.
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