Abdessamad Kayouh, Minister of Transport and Logistics, revealed that motorcycle drivers constitute the most vulnerable category on the roads. They represent more than 63% of deaths recorded in the city of Marrakech and 53% of total deaths linked to traffic accidents in the region.
Known for its historical heritage, its pleasant climate but also for an exceptional influx of motorcyclists. This trend, very widespread in the ocher city, knows neither gender nor age. All Marrakchis wear a helmet and drive a motorcycle.
However, the flip side of the coin shows an alarming mortality rate due to accidents. Minister Abdessamad Kayouh underlined that the action program for road safety, developed for the city of Marrakech over the period 2025-2028, pays particular attention to the development of road infrastructure and compliance with scientific standards in terms of development. territorial and signaling. This program aims to guarantee secure infrastructure capable of protecting all road users, with emphasis on pedestrians and motorcyclists.
This announcement was made during a coordination meeting chaired by Kayouh last Friday in the Wilaya of the Marrakech-Safi region. This meeting was held in the presence of Fatima Zahra Mansouri, Minister of National Territorial Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy, also president of the Marrakech municipal council, Farid Chourak , wali of the Marrakech-Safi region, Samir Goudar, president of the Marrakech-Safi Regional Council, as well as general secretaries, general directors, heads of public institutions, administrations central and external services, and representatives of the local, security and judicial authorities of Marrakech.
The meeting was structured around two main axes: the progress of preparations for the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, scheduled for February 18 to 20, 2025, and the presentation of the main lines of the action program for road safety in Marrakech for the period 2025-2028.
The minister announced that the national road safety agency (NARSA) will distribute free of charge 30,000 protective helmets to motorcyclists in the Marrakech region. Furthermore, private players have mobilized to acquire more than 20,000 additional helmets intended for this category of users.
According to a press release from NARSA, the minister highlighted the importance of this global ministerial conference, organized under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI. This event will bring together official delegations from many countries, led by the ministers responsible for road safety.
He insisted on the importance of mobilizing all efforts to guarantee the success of this event, particularly through its results, which will include the “ Marrakesh declaration “. This document will subsequently be adopted in 2025 by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly.
The minister also stressed that the organization of this conference will contribute to strengthening the positive image of Morocco, and in particular of Marrakech, as a destination of choice for international events. This project will strengthen the influence of this emblematic city and of our country under the enlightened leadership of the King.
-One of the main expected benefits of this event is increased awareness among stakeholders, encouraging collective commitment to improve road safety.
The Ministry of Transport and Logistics has developed an action plan aimed at strengthening road safety in the Marrakech-Safi region. This plan, designed using a participatory approach, involves various stakeholders, including the national road safety agency, the Wilaya of Marrakech-Safi, the Marrakech municipal council, as well as the external services of the Ministry of Equipment, Water, and Transport.
The total budget allocated to this action plan amounts to approximately 392 million dirhams, including a contribution of more than 125 million dirhams from NARSA for the next two years.
This plan provides for several investments, in particular the treatment of accident-prone areas in the city of Marrakech, for an amount of 40 million dirhams, the strengthening of horizontal, vertical and light signaling, for an amount of 88 million dirhams and the security of surroundings of 52 educational establishments as part of the “ Secure School », with a budget of 7 million dirhams.
The deployment of fixed and mobile radars on high-speed roads, at a cost of 70 million dirhams, the improvement of road infrastructure in the mountainous areas of the provinces of Chichaoua, Al Haouz and Essaouira, with an investment of 164 million of dirhams and the strengthening of signage at the entrances to Marrakech and on the main roads leading to tourist sites, for an amount of 10 million dirhams are also part of the plan ministerial.
To reduce intervention time in the event of road accidents, the Agency will also invest 11.5 million dirhams as part of a partnership with the General Directorate of Civil Protection.
Thus, the minister concluded by emphasizing the importance of this action plan, designed to provide the necessary conditions for improving road safety in a targeted geographical area. He added that this program constitutes a model which could be extended to other regions of the Kingdom.
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