Motorists plying Thika Super Highway were on Saturday, May 20, treated to a shocking incident where a police officer on a super-bike gave unconventional orders to a driver who was in the middle of the road.
The traffic police officer ordered the motorist to make moves which were obviously dangerous as he led him in a high-speed drive that was heading toward Central Kenya.
At the same time, the cop was seen swerving his way around the busy road and asking the driver of the car to follow him closely to a destination that was not immediately established.
Motorists who recorded the event expressed their fear for both the police officer and the driver who was under strict commands of the traffic cop.
The traffic cop orders defied all rules in the book including procedural change of lane which require motorists to avoid weaving in and out when changing lanes.
The weaving was so erratic that the motorist did not have time to properly signal other drivers of the next lane he was taking since they were all at high speed.
Traffic Act CAP 403 demands that motorists should be aware of their surroundings and watch out for other vehicles, pedestrians, and animals before changing lanes.
Motorists are also advised to use the left last lane or the climbing lane when driving a slow-moving vehicle, such as a truck or a bus, and be aware of their blind spots.
It is also important for motorists to be prepared to yield to faster-moving traffic in case they are driving in the left lane.
However, those driving on the right lane should be aware of emerging traffic in order to ensure a safe and enjoyable drive on the superhighway.
It was not immediately clear if the traffic police officer was conducting an arrest or clearing the way for the motorist who was closely following him.
Speeding and bad traffic behaviour among motorists are common causes of accidents on Kenyan roads. According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), by March 2023, at least 974 deaths from road accidents had been recorded since January 2023.
