A Paeroa Police officer is reminding drivers about safety on rural roads in an amusing update on social media.

Paeroa Constable Jacinda Karaitiana has given an insight into what a common night shift looks like to her, in a post on the Waikato Police Facebook page.

While on patrol last night she discovered a herd of calves on a rural road in Paeroa, a sight she says is not uncommon.

'On a typical night shift for me in the Hauraki region it is not uncommon to take off the Police hat and put on the farmer hat to herd cows or sheep,” says Jacinda.

'This is how it usually pans out:

1. My off sider tells me to stand near one side of fence while they herd them into open gate

2. I stand in said cow directing spot.

3. Big cow runs fast toward where I'm standing.

4. I panic and run out of cow's way.

5. Cow doesn't go into place it is supposed to.

'Repeat steps 1 to 5 again and hopefully get the cows in the right place, sometimes change places with other person so I don't get run down by cow.”

She says the incident is a timely reminder about driving cautiously on rural roads and near farms.

'No matter how good a driver you might be, you cannot predict what is around the next corner or what has wandered onto the road that shouldn't be there.”