CITIZENS COMPASS— The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Sunday, cautioned members of the public against the use of rolling skate shoes, wheeled footwear and similar recreational devices on public highways and other vehicular corridors, warning that such practices expose users to grave and entirely avoidable traffic hazards.
LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofik, conveyed the message in a statement saying: The Authority observed that the increasing use of footwear fitted with concealed or retractable wheels on roads designed primarily for motorised traffic constitutes a serious safety concern, particularly where users attempt to glide alongside moving vehicles, cross carriageways indiscriminately or manoeuvre through traffic without adequate protective measures and adult supervision.
Unlike designated recreational facilities, public highways are dynamic and highly unpredictable environments characterised by the simultaneous movement of vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians and other road users. The introduction of wheeled recreational devices into such spaces can significantly diminish a user’s ability to respond appropriately to sudden vehicular movements, creating circumstances capable of culminating in devastating collisions and life-altering injuries.
LASTMA therefore strongly advises parents, guardians, schools and caregivers to discourage children and other vulnerable road users from engaging in recreational activities involving rolling skate shoes on highways, expressways, bridges, service lanes and other locations where vehicular traffic is permitted.
The Authority further urges users of such footwear to restrict their activities to designated recreational areas, private compounds or other safe environments specifically suited for skating and to utilise appropriate protective equipment, including helmets, knee pads, elbow pads and other safety gear.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reiterated that road safety is a collective responsibility which requires constant vigilance, discipline and respect for the inherent risks associated with public roads.
He emphasised 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.
LASTMA consequently calls on motorists to exercise heightened vigilance around children and young persons using wheeled footwear, particularly within residential areas, estates, school
zones and other locations where vulnerable road users may suddenly enter the traffic stream.
The Authority further urges members of the public to promptly report dangerous traffic situations, road obstructions, crashes, breakdowns and other incidents requiring urgent traffic-management intervention through the LASTMA toll-free short code 3367, thereby facilitating timely intervention by relevant responders.
LASTMA reiterates its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives, the promotion of responsible road-user behaviour and the sustenance of a safer and more orderly transportation environment across Lagos State.
Safety on Lagos roads is not merely a regulatory obligation; it is a shared civic responsibility.
