LASTMA warns against skating on Lagos highways

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has warned children, teenagers and young adults against using rolling skate shoes on the highways.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA director of public affairs and enlightenment department, warned that the increasing use of footwear fitted with concealed or retractable wheels on roads designed for motorised traffic poses a serious safety risk.

Taofiq said users of such footwear sometimes glide alongside moving vehicles, cross carriageways indiscriminately or manoeuvre through traffic without adequate protective gear or adult supervision.

He said public highways are dynamic environments where vehicles, motorcycles and pedestrians move simultaneously, making them unsuitable for recreational activities involving wheeled devices.

The LASTMA official said using such devices on roads could reduce a person’s ability to react to sudden vehicular movements and increase the risk of collisions and serious injuries.

He advised parents, guardians, schools and caregivers to discourage children and other vulnerable road users from using rolling skate shoes on highways, expressways, bridges, service lanes and other roads open to vehicular traffic.

He urged users to restrict skating activities to designated recreational areas, private compounds and other safe locations, while using protective equipment such as helmets, knee pads and elbow pads.

Olalekan Bakare-Oki, LASTMA general manager, said road safety requires constant vigilance, discipline and respect for the risks associated with public roads.

Taofiq quoted Bakare-Oki as saying the preservation of human life must remain paramount, noting that no recreational activity should expose people to unnecessary danger.

He also urged motorists to exercise caution around children and young people using wheeled footwear, particularly in residential areas, estates and school zones.

He asked members of the public to report dangerous traffic situations, road obstructions, crashes, vehicle breakdowns and other incidents requiring urgent intervention through its toll-free short code, 3367.

The authority said the measure would help facilitate timely intervention by relevant responders and promote safer road use across Lagos. (TheCable)