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

LASTMA said the practice could expose users to serious and avoidable traffic hazards, particularly when they glide alongside moving vehicles, cross carriageways indiscriminately or manoeuvre through traffic without proper protective equipment and supervision.

The warning was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq.According to LASTMA, the increasing use of footwear fitted with concealed or retractable wheels on roads designed mainly for motorised traffic has become a growing road safety concern.

The agency explained that highways are dynamic environments where motorists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and other road users interact simultaneously, making them unsuitable for recreational activities involving wheeled devices.

LASTMA noted that users of rolling skate shoes may have limited ability to react appropriately to sudden vehicular movements, increasing the risk of collisions and potentially serious injuries.

The agency therefore urged 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 designated for vehicular traffic.

Instead, LASTMA advised skating enthusiasts to restrict the activity to designated recreational areas, private compounds and other locations considered safe for skating.It also urged users to wear appropriate protective gear, including helmets, knee pads and elbow pads, whenever they engage in skating activities.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said road safety required collective responsibility, vigilance and discipline from all categories of road users.

Bakare-Oki stressed that the protection of human life must remain paramount, noting that no recreational activity should expose users or other members of the public to unnecessary danger.

He further urged motorists to exercise greater caution around children and young people using wheeled footwear, particularly in residential areas, estates, school zones and other locations where vulnerable road users could suddenly enter the traffic stream.

The LASTMA warning comes amid continued efforts to promote safer road-use practices and reduce avoidable traffic-related injuries across Lagos State.