The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has warned children, teenagers and young adults against using rolling skate shoes and other wheeled recreational footwear on public highways, describing the practice as a serious threat to road safety.
The warning was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, who said footwear fitted with concealed or retractable wheels was increasingly being used on roads designed for vehicular traffic.
Taofiq said some users glide alongside moving vehicles, cross busy roads indiscriminately and weave through traffic without protective equipment or adequate adult supervision, exposing themselves and other road users to crashes and potentially serious injuries.
He stressed that public highways were fundamentally different from designated recreational areas because vehicles, motorcycles and pedestrians operate simultaneously in an unpredictable environment.
According to him, the use of wheeled recreational devices on such roads can significantly limit a user’s ability to respond quickly to sudden changes in traffic conditions.
LASTMA consequently appealed to parents, guardians, schools and caregivers to discourage children and other vulnerable road users from skating on highways, expressways, bridges, service lanes and other areas used by vehicles.
The Authority advised those using rolling skate shoes to restrict skating activities to designated recreational centres, private compounds and other appropriate locations.
It also urged users to wear protective equipment such as helmets, knee pads and elbow pads while skating.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described road safety as a collective responsibility requiring discipline, vigilance and respect for the dangers associated with public roads.
Bakare-Oki said the protection of human life must take priority over recreational activities, stressing that no form of leisure was worth exposing individuals or other road users to avoidable danger.
He also appealed to motorists to exercise extra caution in residential neighbourhoods, estates and school zones, where children and young people using wheeled footwear could unexpectedly enter traffic.
LASTMA further urged residents to report dangerous traffic situations, road obstructions, vehicle breakdowns and crashes through its toll-free emergency short code, 3367, to enable traffic officials to respond promptly.
The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives, promoting responsible road use and ensuring a safer and more orderly transportation environment across Lagos State.
