When our bad driving is now International

Accidents, Car damages, Fines, Public property destruction  is what can briefly describe the driving situation i Kenya. We have become famous that our  driving is international now.

 

Kenyans have learnt to blame a lot rather than their skills.Take this for an example: Mr Oscar Ouma’s crash on Nairobi’s Mombasa Road is noted in traffic police records as a non-injury, single vehicle accident: He drove off the road and hit a tree.The accident report he filled out shows this was not a freak accident. He says he was overtaking a minibus when a matatu driver suddenly accelerated to prevent him from getting by. Thousands of Kenyan drivers are familiar with this dangerous response. It usually leaves the overtaking driver facing the flashing lights of oncoming traffic.Left with no room to brake and slip back behind the matatu and about to collide with an oncoming car, Ouma was forced to veer off to the right. The damage caused by hitting the tree was so severe, the car had to be towed to garage for repairs.

 

Ouma was a victim of one of the anti-social driving behaviour that is rarely prosecuted as a traffic offence, despite its role in causing many crashes. Speeding is often blamed for most crashes, but experts say other unruly behaviour could be blamed.These include dazzling oncoming motorists with full beams, tailgating (following too closely), accelerating to block over-takers, hogging the road and changing lanes improperly.Some of the behaviour is not offences specifically mentioned in the Traffic Act.

 

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