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Rabat – Morocco’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics has announced new measures to strengthen oversight of imported motorcycles, following the suspension of speed monitoring using speedometers on August 21. The initiative comes amid a surge in motorcycle imports—particularly from China—and growing concerns about road safety.
An official told the national broadcaster SNRTnews that monitoring cells will soon be established at border crossings, especially at ports. These units will include representatives from the Customs Administration and other relevant sectors to verify compliance before motorcycles are allowed to enter the country.
The ministry explained that this measure is intended to streamline import operations for certified “Green Pass” companies, including motorized cyclomoteurs, which already meet official technical standards.
The decision follows data shared by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Customs Administration, revealing a sharp rise in imports—from 121,674 motorcycles in 2022 to 336,970 in 2024. More than 90 percent of these vehicles were declared as having an engine capacity of less than 50 cubic centimeters.
Legal and Regulatory Adjustments Under Discussion
The official added that consultations remain ongoing and that authorities are considering adjustments to current legal provisions, particularly Articles 111 and 157 of the traffic code. Among the proposals is a review of penalties for motorcycle owners whose vehicles fail to meet technical requirements. Discussions are also underway to enhance import control mechanisms and strengthen certification processes in coordination with relevant services.
Read also: 12-Month Grace Period: Morocco Suspends Motorcycle Enforcement Campaign
The new measures follow the postponement of mandatory speedometer checks, which were intended to ensure motorcycles respected the legal cylinder capacity of 50 cubic centimeters and maximum speed limit of 50 km/h. Motorcycle owners were granted a grace period to bring their vehicles into compliance.
Minister of Transport and Logistics Abdessamad Kayouh addressed the issue on Wednesday, September 10, during a meeting of the Permanent Committee for Road Safety. He acknowledged that the introduction of the speedometer requirement created significant difficulties for motorcycle owners, affirming the need to adapt regulations to on-the-ground realities without undermining road safety objectives.
Kayouh emphasized that further measures—including the formal approval process for speedometers—remain under review and that monitoring will resume once the necessary procedures are finalized.
The minister also presented provisional traffic accident statistics, revealing that 2,922 people lost their lives in road accidents this year, marking a sharp increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Fatalities within urban areas rose by 45.6 percent, with around half of the victims being motorcycle users. Outside urban areas, the death rate increased by nearly 13 percent.
Kayouh stressed that the alarming figures highlight the urgent need for practical measures addressing every stage of the motorcycle supply chain—from import and distribution to certification and road monitoring.
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