The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has cautioned children, teenagers and young adults against using roller skates, wheeled shoes and other similar devices on public highways, warning that the practice exposes users to serious and avoidable traffic hazards.
LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, gave the warning in a statement on Sunday, noting that the increasing use of footwear fitted with concealed or retractable wheels on roads designed primarily for motorised traffic poses a significant safety concern.
Bakare-Oki explained that the risks become particularly serious when users attempt to glide alongside moving vehicles, cross carriageways indiscriminately or manoeuvre through traffic without adequate protective measures and adult supervision. He noted that public highways are dynamic environments where vehicles, motorcycles and pedestrians move simultaneously, making it difficult for skaters to respond safely to sudden changes in traffic.
He therefore urged parents, guardians, schools and caregivers to discourage children and other vulnerable road users from skating on highways, expressways, bridges and service lanes. He advised that skating activities should instead be restricted to designated recreational areas, private compounds and other locations specifically suited for the activity.
The LASTMA boss also encouraged users of wheeled footwear to wear appropriate safety equipment, including helmets, knee pads and elbow pads. He stressed that road safety is a collective responsibility and urged motorists to exercise heightened vigilance around children and young persons, particularly in residential areas, estates and school zones.
Bakare-Oki further appealed to members of the public to report dangerous traffic situations, road obstructions, crashes and other incidents requiring urgent intervention through LASTMA’s toll-free short code 3367, to facilitate timely response by relevant agencies.
