About 590 small taxis criss-cross the various points of the urban perimeter of Mohammedia and transport thousands of clients. Beyond this number, what is most worrying today are the practices of some small taxi drivers who have no respect for other road users: caring little for their safety and that of their passengers has become customary. Disrespect for the rules of the Highway Code and the lack of civility on the part of these taxi drivers are the rule among these drivers, who park where they want when they want, stopping and restarting without a signal, ignoring the risks, the most important thing for them being the gain, to the detriment of road safety.



The entry into force of the new Highway Code has not deterred these taxi drivers who continue to ignore safety instructions on the public highway. Their behaviour triggers the anger of other road users, and calls on public services to put an end to actions that paralyse certain arteries of the city, notably Rue Ferhat Hachad, Boulevard des FAR, Rue de Safi, and the Marche Verte roundabout.

As paradoxical as it may seem, small taxis, according to a prefectural official, have not had their vehicles undergo technical inspections since 2005. How then to explain this anomaly, knowing that the regulations in force require that, every year, vehicles circulating for more than 5 years undergo a technical inspection for more safety? Why do small taxis not comply with the law? For this regular taxi user, the implementation of the new Highway Code has not put an end to abuses, most small taxis being in a less than reassuring state, the technical inspection would reveal serious problems, which explains the refusal of the technical control. The profession today requires a total upgrade. An upgrade that involves rigorous monitoring of compliance with the specifications.

For most drivers, compliance with regulations, but especially the upgrading of the profession, is essential to put an end to the anarchy.

Transparency must prevail to value this profession and regain the trust of clients. Binding specifications would make it possible to define the rights and obligations of everyone, in order to better serve clients, far from the perpetual struggle against time and money. Who benefits from this profession? First of all, the owners of the licences, those who rent them, or the taxi drivers, most of whom have no medical coverage. Their constraints make them forget the essential, the mechanical state of the taxi, the safety aspect, and the notion of service, a priority sector and vector of socio-economic development.

The services concerned are called upon to settle the technical inspection aspect for small taxis, because there is a real impact on the safety of users. The same services must multiply controls and crack down on those who do not comply with the requirements of the Highway Code. To accompany these measures, it would also be necessary to accelerate the pace of road infrastructure improvements as well as the implementation of an adapted urban travel plan.

In terms of transport policy, a lot of work is needed. The problems of small taxis are part of a set of other issues related to mobility: the operation of certain lines, non-compliance with the provisions of the specifications, unprofitable lines, the state of certain vehicles providing urban transport, speed, delays, overloading, touting are all questions to be resolved in the general interest.

-* Encourage small taxi drivers to comply with the requirements of the Highway Code.

-* Encourage drivers to wear badges with photo and name.

-* Development of a bus station.