فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
The Regional Road Safety Committee of the Fes-Meknes region held a meeting on Thursday in the city of Fes to review the outcomes of the programs and measures implemented in pursuit of achieving the goals of the National Road Safety Strategy 2017-2026, amidst increasing challenges faced by the region.
At the opening of the meeting, Mouad El-Jamali, the Wali (Governor) of the Fes-Meknes region, warned about the escalating risks associated with the unsafe behaviors of some road users, particularly in the context of the urban and traffic pressures the region is experiencing. He emphasized the importance of assessing the work done in this critical area and strengthening follow-up mechanisms to ensure the effectiveness of interventions.
El-Jamali confirmed that coordination between the various stakeholders is the key to success in achieving the objectives of the national strategy, as well as contributing to the goals of the Global Road Safety Action Plan (2021-2030), which aims to reduce fatalities and severe injuries by no less than 50%.
The Wali expressed concern about the continued daily toll of over 10 deaths and 34 severe injuries nationwide, with economic losses approaching 19 billion dirhams annually. He pointed out that Fes-Meknes ranks fifth in the country in terms of road traffic fatalities, which calls for unified efforts and the adoption of new approaches based on a balance between prevention, deterrence, and respect for the law.
For his part, Benaissa Boulaajoul, Director General of the National Road Safety Agency (NARSA), explained that the meeting is part of the momentum following the fourth Ministerial Global Conference on Road Safety, recently held in Marrakesh, which served as a platform for exchanging experiences among international stakeholders.
At the regional level, Boulaajoul revealed a 14.7% decrease in accident indicators in 2023 compared to 2015, due to coordinated efforts among various actors. However, he pointed to a concerning rise in fatalities among vulnerable groups (pedestrians and cyclists), calling for enhanced interventions in monitoring, infrastructure, training, and improving the response to road accidents.
In this context, NARSA launched a comprehensive study to evaluate the outcomes of the National Strategy and the first five-year action plan (2017-2021), as well as the achievements of 2022 and 2023, with the aim of developing a new action plan tailored to current challenges.
The Director General of NARSA also stressed the importance of incorporating road safety standards into road planning and rehabilitation projects, especially as Morocco prepares to host major events with increased infrastructure demands. In this regard, he announced the organization of training sessions for engineers and technicians of local authorities to enhance their skills in signage and safety.
The meeting, which was attended by provincial and district governors, heads of local councils, and representatives from relevant security and external services, included a detailed presentation on road safety indicators at the regional and national levels, as well as the annual results of the action plan for 2023 and 2025.
Source: Fes News Media
