The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has cautioned children, teenagers and young adults against using roller skates, wheeled footwear and similar devices on public highways. The warning was issued by General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki in a statement on Sunday.

Bakare-Oki said the growing use of shoes fitted with concealed or retractable wheels on roads meant for vehicles poses a serious safety risk. He noted that users often try to glide alongside moving cars, cross roads without care or weave through traffic without proper protection or adult supervision.

He explained that public highways are unpredictable places with cars, motorcycles and pedestrians moving at the same time. Introducing recreational wheeled devices into these spaces reduces a user’s ability to react quickly to sudden vehicle movements and can lead to serious collisions and injuries.

LASTMA advised parents, guardians, schools and caregivers to stop children and other vulnerable road users from skating on highways, expressways, bridges and service lanes. The authority urged them to restrict such activities to designated recreational areas, private compounds or other safe places.

Users were also encouraged to wear proper protective gear such as helmets, knee pads and elbow pads. Bakare-Oki stressed that road safety is a shared responsibility and that no recreational activity is worth risking lives. He called on motorists to stay alert around young people using wheeled footwear, especially in residential areas and school zones.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper