LASTMA Warns Against Using Rolling Skate Shoes On Highways

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has warned members of the public, particularly children, teenagers and young adults, against using rolling skate shoes, wheeled footwear and similar recreational devices on public highways and other vehicular corridors.

The Authority, in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, said the practice exposes users to serious and avoidable traffic hazards.

LASTMA said the increasing use of footwear fitted with concealed or retractable wheels on roads designed mainly for motorised traffic was a major safety concern, particularly when users glide alongside moving vehicles, cross carriageways indiscriminately or manoeuvre through traffic without adequate protective measures and adult supervision.

It noted that public highways are dynamic environments where vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians and other road users operate simultaneously, unlike designated recreational facilities.

According to the Authority, the use of wheeled recreational devices in such environments can reduce users’ ability to respond appropriately to sudden vehicular movements, potentially resulting in collisions and life-altering injuries.

LASTMA therefore 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 areas where vehicular traffic is permitted.

The Authority also urged users of such footwear to limit their activities to designated recreational areas, private compounds and other safe locations suitable for skating.

It further advised users to wear 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 remained a collective responsibility requiring constant vigilance, discipline and respect for the risks associated with public roads.

He stressed that protecting human life must remain the priority, adding that no recreational activity should warrant exposing oneself or other road users to unnecessary danger.

LASTMA consequently appealed to motorists to exercise heightened caution around children and young persons using wheeled footwear, particularly in residential areas, estates, school zones and other locations where vulnerable road users could suddenly enter the traffic stream.

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

LASTMA said prompt reports would facilitate timely intervention by relevant responders.

The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives, promoting responsible road-user behaviour and sustaining 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,” LASTMA said.