Marrakech: The youth are key actors of change and play a central role in building a safer, more sustainable future in terms of mobility and road safety, Director General of Morocco’s National Road Safety Agency (NARSA), Benacer Boulaajoul, said in Marrakech on Saturday.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the commitment, strong mobilization, and innovative ideas of youth will certainly contribute to developing more appropriate public policies and implementing effective solutions to improve road safety, Boulaajoul stressed, speaking at the opening of the 3rd World Youth Assembly for Road Safety (February 15-16).

This event, which is particularly significant in that it is being held ahead of the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety (February 18-20 in Marrakech), is an opportunity to broadcast the voice of youth in order to have an impact on the policies that will define the future of road safety, he said. Boulaajoul added that this meeting is also an opportunity to address ‘an often neglected reality,’ namely that road accidents are the leading cause of death among youth worldwide.

The NARSA head also emphasized the need for constant mobilization to tackle this issue, stressing the urgency of adopting an inclusive approach by directly involving this category in the development of mobility policies, the design of transport infrastructures, and the implementation of innovative solutions to enhance road safety.

With this in mind, Boulaajoul said that road safety is not limited to the implementation of regulations and the development of infrastructures, but also relies on the collective awareness and active participation of young people. He called for the intensification of efforts in road safety education, the promotion of a culture of prevention, and support for innovative initiatives led by young people in favor of safer roads and more responsible mobility.

This assembly goes beyond the simple identification of problems, aiming to propose concrete solutions, he noted. Boulaajoul invited the young participants to show boldness, express themselves with determination, and become actively involved in favor of concrete change.

“We are at a turning point. The choices we make now, whether in terms of infrastructure, vehicle safety, urban planning or policies, will define the safety of future generations,” Boulaajoul said, concluding that the future of road safety rests on collective mobilization, with youth occupying a prime position as the driving force behind innovation and initiatives for safer roads.