LASTMA Cautions Against Use of Rolling Skate Shoes on Lagos Highways, Urges Heightened Vigilance

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has issued a strong advisory to the public, particularly children, teenagers, and young adults, warning against the use of rolling skate shoes and wheeled footwear on public highways and vehicular corridors.

The Authority expressed concern over the increasing trend of individuals using footwear fitted with concealed or retractable wheels on roads primarily designed for motorized traffic. LASTMA noted that such practices, which often involve users gliding alongside moving vehicles or maneuvering indiscriminately through traffic without protective gear, pose grave and entirely avoidable safety hazards.

The agency emphasized that public highways are dynamic, highly unpredictable environments where vehicles, motorcycles, and pedestrians interact simultaneously. The introduction of wheeled recreational devices into these spaces severely diminishes a user’s ability to react to sudden vehicular movements, creating conditions ripe for devastating collisions and life-altering injuries.

LASTMA has therefore urged parents, guardians, schools, and caregivers to actively discourage children and vulnerable road users from engaging in recreational skating on highways, expressways, bridges, and service lanes. The Authority advised that such activities be strictly confined to designated recreational areas, private compounds, or other safe environments specifically suited for skating. It also stressed the importance of using appropriate protective equipment, including helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads.

Speaking on the development, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reiterated that road safety is a collective responsibility requiring constant vigilance and respect for the inherent risks associated with public roads. He emphasized that the preservation of human life must remain paramount, noting that no recreational activity is sufficiently important to justify exposing oneself or other road users to unnecessary danger.

In addition to warning pedestrians and skaters, LASTMA called on motorists to exercise heightened vigilance around children and young persons using wheeled footwear, particularly within residential areas, estates, and school zones where vulnerable road users may suddenly enter the traffic stream.

The Authority further urged members of the public to promptly report dangerous traffic situations, road obstructions, crashes, and breakdowns through the LASTMA toll-free short code 3367, facilitating timely intervention by relevant responders.

LASTMA reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives, the promotion of responsible road-user behavior, and the sustenance of a safer, more orderly transportation environment across Lagos State.

“Safety on Lagos roads is not merely a regulatory obligation; it is a shared civic responsibility,” the statement concluded.