21 killed in road accidents in a week

With the cooler than expected weather, the low cost and availability of air flights, tourists are flocking to Morocco at a time of the year when the heat usually keeps them away. Marrakech is buzzing and Fez is enjoying record numbers of family tourists and young people.

However, a warning, if you plan to rent a car and drive yourself, you should consider the dangers on the roads. In this week alone, twenty one people were killed and 1,063 injured, including 877 seriously, in the 877 road accidents between August 7 to 13.

Authorities blame road accidents on speed excess, non-respect of road regulations and pedestrians inadvertence.

On Tuesday, seven people were killed in two separate accidents in central Morocco.

15,382 road accidents killed 345 and injured over a thousand between January and May 2005 in Morocco.

During the last ten years, road accidents increased at a yearly basis of 3%, causing enormous economic losses. They cost the State about USD 1.2 billion a year, that is 2.5% of the GDP.

Generally the roads are fine but you do need to be aware that not all drivers are as careful as you might hope.