HIBAPRESS – Rabat
Shtour Ali, President of the Moroccan Association for the Defense of Consumer Rights and member of the Moroccan Federation for Consumer Rights, warned of the dangers of congestion and random car parking in front of several educational institutions, especially during the periods of students' arrival and departure at the beginning of the school year.
Shtour Ali explained that the concern of parents to take their children to school is legitimate, but this concern should not turn into a source of danger to children, pedestrians, and other road users. He pointed out that random stopping in front of the school gates, on sidewalks, and in prohibited parking areas obstructs traffic and may force pedestrians, especially children, to use the road instead of the sidewalk.
Shtour indicated in a statement to "HIBAPRESS" that the concept of safety is not limited to products and services, but also includes various circumstances that can expose citizens to danger in their daily lives. He highlighted that Law No. 31.08 on consumer protection establishes the principle of protecting consumers from dangers that may affect their safety and health.
He considered that raising awareness of safe and responsible behaviors is part of the preventive and awareness-raising work of consumer protection associations, stressing that the safety of children and pedestrians is a shared responsibility and that respecting traffic rules should not be solely linked to the presence of surveillance or security personnel, but should become a daily behavior.
Shtour Ali emphasized that the road leading to school is also an educational space, explaining that children acquire part of their behaviors through what they see daily from adults, including respecting pedestrian crossings, not occupying sidewalks, and adhering to traffic signals and rules.
He called on parents to plan in advance for dropping off their children and to avoid haste that leads to stopping in unauthorized places, while respecting sidewalks and pedestrian crossings and not blocking school entrances or obstructing traffic.
He also called on the administrations of educational institutions to contribute to organizing the arrival and departure processes, coordinating with families and relevant authorities, and adopting arrangements that would reduce congestion, especially during peak hours.
In the same context, he appealed to the local authorities and traffic services to continue organizing the surroundings of educational institutions, studying the specifics of each area, and finding practical solutions that ensure smooth traffic flow and protect children and pedestrians.
The President of the Moroccan Association for the Defense of Consumer Rights affirmed that addressing this phenomenon should not rely solely on punitive measures but requires awareness, organization, monitoring, and cooperation from all parties. He called on families, educational institutions, local authorities, and all stakeholders to engage in promoting a culture of civic behavior and respecting Traffic Law No. 52.05, thereby contributing to making the surroundings of educational institutions a safe and organized space.
