In a tragic scene that brings to the forefront traffic problems in the city of Casablanca, the Mohammadi neighborhood was shaken on Wednesday morning by a tragic traffic accident that claimed the lives of three people and left injuries and major material losses.
The accident, which occurred at the “Ibn Tashfin” tram station at the intersection of Uqba Bin Nafi Street and the Grand Belt Street, was not just an ordinary accident, but rather an urgent call to address the issue of large trucks that roam around the city’s neighborhoods with ease, despite the fact that the matter poses a danger to the infrastructure as well. On the safety of citizens.
According to what Al-Jarida 24 examined, the accident resulted in the death of two men and a woman in separate places: the first died at the accident site, while the other two died inside the hospital.
In addition to the painful human losses, the collision caused massive material damage to the station, which led to a temporary paralysis of tram traffic and created chaos that disrupted trip schedules.
This sudden disruption not only left its impact on the infrastructure, but also caused the suffering of thousands of passengers who found themselves stranded, their daily plans disrupted and ravaged by the repercussions of the cessation of the vital means of transportation on which they mainly depend.
Despite the recurrence of these accidents, the streets of Casablanca continue to suffer from the traffic of heavy trucks, which drive in residential areas and urban areas, although the Casablanca group confirmed that this is considered prohibited and a violation of the law.
In this regard, the head of the district of Al-Mohammadi District, Youssef Al-Rikh, confirmed in press statements that the truck did not respect the traffic law by entering the urban area prohibited for trucks, as there are clear signs prohibiting its entry into this space.
The driver explained that there was a designated route for trucks via Mimosa, but the driver chose to pass through a densely populated area, which led to the disaster.
In his statements, he called on the Casablanca community and local authorities to tighten control over respect for these laws and ensure that such accidents do not occur again in the future, stressing the importance of obliging drivers to use the alternative routes allocated to them.
The suffering of Casablanca residents as heavy trucks pass through their streets is not a spur of the moment.
Consequently, the streets of crowded neighborhoods such as Hay Mohammadi and Ain Sebaa have become a scene for truck traffic, which increases the risk of daily accidents and puts the lives of residents at risk.
Although the Casablanca Community Council announced years ago plans to reduce truck traffic within the city, by establishing logistical platforms outside it and linking the port to a highway network, implementation remained late, forcing drivers to use internal streets to save time at the expense of citizens’ safety.
Residents suffer daily from the noise caused by truck engines, especially in the late hours of the night, when annoying alarm sounds become a constant source of concern.
Citizens’ complaints are increasing day after day as trucks continue to pass through their areas without real deterrence, while the procedures of local authorities to address the situation remain insufficient, whether in terms of enforcing laws or providing practical alternatives to truck drivers.
The tragic accident that occurred today clearly reflects the danger of underestimating the application of laws related to the passage of trucks within the city.
The time restrictions imposed are often implemented irregularly, putting the lives of thousands of city residents at risk every day.
The city’s infrastructure has also begun to bear additional burdens as a result of these practices, as roads and facilities are exposed to damage, in addition to delays in public transportation, on which most residents depend.
Civil activists have repeatedly called for finding radical and quick solutions to this problem, through strict enforcement of the laws related to the passage of trucks and the establishment of effective alternative roads that meet the needs of drivers without harming the population.
With the increase in traffic accidents caused by these trucks, it seems that there is an urgent need to strictly enforce the laws and create an infrastructure that guarantees the safety of residents.
The hope remains that the Casablanca community will move seriously to put an end to this ongoing suffering, considering that the latest incident is only a new example of what can happen when laws are ignored and their application is failed.
