Page 362 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Morocco

360  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Travelling by Car in Morocco the rules of the road are not
meticulously observed at night.
The best way of travelling around Morocco, and of exploring Be particularly careful about
the country’s historic sites and natural environment in areas pedestrians crossing roads and
not served by local public transport, is by car. The imperfect even motorways.
road network is constantly under improvement, and the Indicator lights are rarely
used, and you will find that
number of metalled roads means that a four-wheel-drive you must try to anticipate
vehicle is not essential, even in the South. A greater hazard the changes of direction of
is Moroccan driving standards. There are a number of car-hire the vehicles in your vicinity.
companies in Morocco with varying standards of service. Many major roads often have
Satellite navigation is also available in Morocco for driving two carriageways, which can
make overtaking hazardous.
around major towns.
On mountain roads, taxis
and buses are often driven
somewhat dangerously.
Sound your horn when
driving into a blind bend.
Roads and Tracks
Morocco’s relatively dense road
network is undergoing constant
improvements. So as to reap
the benefit of the latest new
stretches of road, buy the most
up-to-date road map.
The well-developed road
network in northern Morocco is
gradually being supplemented
by motorways, which are very
Traffic in town, where other cars are not the only obstacles pleasant to use as they do not
carry many trucks. The road
Rules of the Road Road Signs network in southern Morocco
The Moroccan highway code The international system is less dense and the few minor
is based on the one that is applies to road signs in roads in the region are often in
used in France, so you must Morocco, most of which have a bad state of repair.
usually give way to the wording in Arabic and French. In the South and in the
right. At roundabouts, In large towns, direction signs Atlas mountains, metalled
you should give way are sparse, so that it roads serve most places of
to cars already on is inadvisable to set interest to tourists, and they are
the roundabout. out without a map or com plemented by a relatively
In general, reliable instructions. good network of tracks. A four-
Moroccan drivers Signage on wheel-drive vehicle is essential
obey traffic lights, motorways and for journeys in these regions.
perhaps because Road sign in French major roads is usually
most junctions are and Arabic good. Lighting,
patrolled by a however, is Driving in Towns
gendarme or policeman. normally non-existent, The volume of traffic in
The speed limits are 40 except on the approaches large towns and cities can
or 60 kmh (25 or 37 mph) to large towns. be considerable, and the
in built-up areas, 100 kmh increasing number
(60 mph) on the open road of vehicles on the
and 120 kmh (74 mph) on Traffic Hazards roads leads to
the motorway. In the approach Negotiating local multiple jams and
to towns, drivers will some- traffic is difficult mainly bottlenecks, which
times see signs giving different because of the great are aggravated by
speed limits; when in doubt, variety of vehicles that the flotilla of bicycles
keep to 40 kmh (25 mph), use the roads. As a and mopeds that also
since speed traps are common general rule, avoid impede traffic flow.
on these stretches of road. driving at night, when Although it is
Fines for speeding and other carts and bicycles possible to drive into
traffic offences range from with no lights are a Parking attendant most medinas (the
300 to 600 dirhams. real hazard. In towns, wearing a badge old areas of towns),

360-361_EW_Morocco.indd 360 09/08/16 11:20 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm