Morocco Cracks Down on Illegal Speed Bumps in Urban Neighborhoods

36% of the speed bumps or humps in 70 prefectures and provinces have been installed by citizens in an anarchic manner, Laftit revealed in his response to a written question from the deputy of the Popular Movement, Fatima Kachouti, adding that "most of them are located in alleys and working-class neighborhoods, where residents place them in order to force drivers, especially motorcyclists, to reduce their speed and thus reduce the number of road accidents."

Laftit also stated that his department "attaches great importance to the issue of speed bumps," highlighting "the support and support of local authorities to address this issue within the framework of a comprehensive approach to the urban mobility system, including traffic management and road network development." The member of the government also stressed the need for local authorities to "identify appropriate sites to install speed bumps, in order to ensure the safety of pedestrians, particularly in areas with socio-economic facilities and urban centers."

Aware of the damage that these anarchic speed bumps can cause to road users, the local authorities "regularly coordinate with the municipal services to remove these speed bumps and replace them with others that comply with safety standards," Laftit assured, adding that "some local authorities are solving this problem from a global perspective, by focusing on the complete rehabilitation of the streets."

The official cited the example of the city of Casablanca "where a street and alley redevelopment project is underway. This work includes the renewal of existing speed bumps, which will be replaced by devices that comply with the applicable technical standards." The Ministry of the Interior, in collaboration with the Ministry of Equipment and Transport, the Ministry of Territorial Planning and Urbanism, and the National Road Safety Agency, have developed a reference guide on road safety in urban areas, including speed bumps, Laftit concluded.