HIBAPRESS – Rabat
In the context of commemorating World Day for Safety and Health at Work, a renewed discussion surfaces regarding the relationship between road health and safety, considering it one of the essential gateways in addressing the problem of traffic accidents and reducing their economic and social repercussions.
In addition to other main reasons related to speed, using the phone while driving, and other reasons related to not respecting traffic laws in general, the health condition of the driver emerges as a decisive factor that may turn, in the absence of awareness, sensitivity, and monitoring, into a silent threat to lives on the roads. This trend has not been absent from the Moroccan legislator, who worked to frame the health eligibility for driving within a precise legal arsenal. Law No. 52.05 related to the Traffic Code, as amended according to Law No. 116.14 issued in the Official Gazette No. 6490 on August 11, 2016, stipulated the necessity for the driver to have the physical and mental abilities necessary for driving, and linked obtaining a driving license and undergoing its tests to providing a medical certificate proving this eligibility. The matter was not limited to the stage of obtaining the license, but the principle of periodic monitoring of the health status of drivers was also enshrined, as Article 14 of Law No. 52.05 related to the Traffic Code stipulated the need to renew the medical examination periodically, especially for professional drivers and drivers over 65 years of age, and a precise list of medical conditions that may be a hindrance or restriction to driving was also determined within the joint decision of the Minister of Equipment and Transport and the Minister of Health No. 2653.11 issued on September 16, 2011. The technical data related to these examinations reveals that they are not limited to one aspect, but include monitoring vision and hearing, the functions of the heart and nervous system, in addition to psychological and mental balance, as well as tracking medical history that may affect the driver's ability to control the vehicle, which reflects a comprehensive approach that considers that road safety begins with human safety, and not just respecting traffic rules. However, the problem raised today does not relate to the absence of texts, but to the extent of awareness of them and adherence to their provisions, as many drivers still view the medical examination as a formality for administrative purposes limited only to an eye exam, without a true realization that it is an examination of physical and mental fitness for driving, and its preventive role in ensuring safe driving conditions for the driver, his family environment, and other road users. In contrast, several field data indicate that a number of accidents may be related to health factors, such as poor vision, chronic fatigue, or concentration disorders, or even sudden health ailments that may affect the driver while driving. In this context, the National Agency for Road Safety "NARSA" is working to intensify the approaches and efforts it is making in raising awareness among drivers in general about the most important diseases and health disorders that may affect the driver's ability to deal with the various dangers and variables required by the use of the road field. The link between World Day for Safety and Health at Work and road safety opens a new horizon for thinking about ways to strengthen the road prevention and safety system in the awareness and understanding of road users, so that health becomes one of the basic pillars of real prevention that occurs before the accident.
