Morocco’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics said Monday it has postponed the enforcement of new rules requiring standardized speedometer checks for motorbikes, after concerns over road safety, social impact, and affordability for riders.
The directive, initially issued on Aug. 6 by the National Road Safety Agency to the General Directorate of National Security, aimed to unify inspection procedures for motorbikes using speed-measuring devices. Officials said the measure was designed to curb a sharp rise in fatalities among motorbike users, who accounted for more than 43% of all road deaths in 2024, or 1,738 people. Authorities blame many of the crashes on excessive speed caused by illegal modifications to bikes.
The ministry said a summer road safety program helped reduce fatalities in July by 25% outside urban areas and by 5.2% nationally compared with the same month last year. However, deaths inside cities rose by nearly 49%, largely due to accidents involving motorcycles.
Taking into account both safety requirements and the socioeconomic realities of riders, the ministry said it will review the directive in consultation with the prime minister. Owners will be given a grace period to bring their vehicles into compliance, particularly ensuring that engines do not exceed 50 cubic centimeters and that maximum speeds stay under the legal limit of 50 km/h.
The duration of this grace period will be set after a meeting of the Standing Road Safety Committee and wider consultations with stakeholders, the ministry added. Public awareness campaigns will also continue through television, digital platforms, and on-the-ground outreach.
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