Chaos ensued along Outering Road in Nairobi near Naivas Eastgate on the evening of Friday, January 10, as unruly motorists flouted traffic rules, exposing glaring lapses in traffic management.
The absence of traffic police at this notorious stretch forced police officers travelling in a private security vehicle to intervene in dramatic fashion, cocking their guns to ease the gridlock.
The confusion began when a green matatu driver attempted to drive across the road into the opposite lane, nearly colliding with a white saloon car.
This reckless move forced vehicles on the other lane to come to a halt, as the matatu had blocked their way, worsening an already chaotic situation.
Police Intervene After Motorists Flout Traffic Along Outering Road
Police officers traveling in a private security vehicle were compelled to step out and take charge of the disorder.
The officers, visibly frustrated, directed the matatu driver to return to his proper lane.
However, their efforts were met with resistance, sparking a heated argument between the driver and the officers.
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One officer was seen pointing at the driver, repeatedly instructing him to go back to his lane. The standoff persisted as the driver hesitated, further aggravating the gridlock.
Eventually, after an intense exchange, the driver reluctantly complied, but not without adding to the delay and confusion on the road.
Motorists Recklessly Disrupts Traffic Flow
The scene was chaotic, with buses, matatus, and private vehicles jostling for space in the absence of a roundabout or proper traffic lights.
With no traffic officers on-site, the disorganized flow of vehicles worsened. At one point, a vehicle narrowly missed hitting a pedestrian, further highlighting the dangers posed by the lack of proper traffic management.
The incident highlighted the vulnerability of motorists and pedestrians at this blackspot.
Also Read: 7 Dead in Separate Accidents Involving Bus Full of Passengers, Matatu & School Bus
Outering Road Named One of the Most Dangerous Roads
This road has earned an infamous reputation as one of Nairobi’s most dangerous highways and a glaring black spot due to the alarming number of accidents reported over the years.
Despite being expanded four years ago to ease commuting, the road has become a perilous route for motorists and pedestrians alike.
In 2018, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) named Outering Road as the most dangerous highway in Nairobi.
The trend continued into August 2019, when the road ranked second only to Mombasa Road as the deadliest in the city.
At a United Nations (UN) global road safety meeting in 2022, Outering Road was described as one of the most dangerous roads in the world.
Urban mobility expert Claudia Adriazola-Steil reiterated this position, highlighting the highway’s high rate of accidents and fatalities.
Statistics paint a grim picture. In the first nine months of 2021 alone, Outering Road recorded the highest number of fatalities in the city, with 90% of those deaths involving pedestrians.
The lack of proper pedestrian crossings, poor road design, and inadequate traffic management have contributed to its notoriety.
Urgent action is needed to prevent further chaos and ensure the safety of all road users.
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