Morocco has suspended its controversial motorcycle enforcement campaign, which had sparked significant public backlash. The decision followed a phone call between Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and Transport Minister Abdessamad Kayouh on Thursday morning.
Reports indicate that motorcycle owners will now receive a 12-month grace period to comply with legal standards and technical specifications. This period will be used to raise awareness about the dangers of modifying motorcycle engines, which contribute to increased accident rates.
The suspended campaign, led by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, had involved measuring motorcycle speeds with speedometers. Any motorcycle exceeding 58 km/h was considered “modified” and subject to impoundment, fines ranging from MAD 5,000 to 30,000 ($500-3,000), and prison sentences of three months to a year.
MP Mohammed Ouzzine had raised concerns about the campaign’s rationale, pointing out in a parliamentary inquiry that most motorcycles, particularly those of French and Japanese make, naturally exceed the speed limit without modification.
The parliamentarian warned that strict enforcement of this measure would deprive over one million Moroccans of their motorcycles, further straining purchasing power, especially without accompanying awareness programs or road safety training.
Citizens raised concerns about the inconsistency in the state’s approach, questioning how thousands of modified or non-compliant motorcycles were allowed through customs, displayed at licensed dealerships, and registered with a 49cc capacity, only for buyers to later discover they were breaking the law.
The campaign had already led to the impounding of hundreds of motorcycles across several Moroccan cities, with security forces conducting field tests at checkpoints. Most of the seized vehicles were low-cost Chinese models that had been illegally modified to increase speed.
In response, some motorcycle owners launched a “Leave It At Home” initiative, choosing to park their bikes to avoid controls and impoundment.
The National Road Safety Agency (NARSA) defended the measures, stating they were necessary to protect lives and ensure compliance with legal standards, citing that motorcycles exceeding 40 km/h contributed to a significant percentage of fatal accidents.
Official data reveals that motorcycle accidents now account for more than 30% of road fatalities in Morocco.
Ouzzine criticized the focus on speed alone, arguing that it ignored other critical factors such as weight, brake quality, helmet standards, and overall technical structure.
He suggested that monitoring of technical modifications should begin at the import and approval stages, continuing through distribution, rather than placing the entire responsibility on citizens.
The issue also sparked debate about fairness in enforcement, with some questioning whether government departments would apply the same standards to their own motorcycles and employees.
During the 12-month grace period, authorities will be tasked with ensuring that importers comply with regulations governing such vehicles.