The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has warned children, teenagers and young adults against using roller skates, wheeled shoes and similar devices on highways, bridges and other roads open to traffic.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has cautioned residents against using roller skates, rolling skate shoes and other wheeled footwear on public highways, citing the risk of collisions and serious injuries.
The warning, issued on Sunday, September 20, 2026, particularly targets children, teenagers and young adults who use footwear fitted with concealed or retractable wheels for recreational activities on roads.
According to LASTMA, public highways are designed primarily for vehicular movement and can become highly unpredictable environments when pedestrians using wheeled recreational devices mix with moving vehicles, motorcycles and other road users.
The agency said the practice becomes especially dangerous when users glide alongside moving vehicles, cross carriageways without adequate caution or attempt to manoeuvre through traffic without protective equipment and adult supervision.
LASTMA Highlights Risk to Children and Young People
The warning was contained in a statement issued by LASTMA's Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq.
The agency said the increasing use of footwear fitted with concealed or retractable wheels on roads meant for motorised traffic had become a safety concern.
LASTMA explained that users of such footwear may have less ability to react quickly when traffic conditions suddenly change.
On a busy highway, vehicles can approach from different directions and at different speeds, while motorcycles, pedestrians and other road users may also be moving through the same space.
According to the authority, introducing wheeled recreational devices into such environments could make it more difficult for users to respond appropriately to sudden vehicle movements, increasing the possibility of crashes and potentially severe injuries.
Warning Covers Highways, Expressways and Bridges
LASTMA urged parents, guardians, schools and caregivers to discourage children and other vulnerable road users from using roller skates and wheeled footwear for recreation on highways.
The warning also covers expressways, bridges, service lanes and other areas where vehicular traffic is permitted.
The authority said these areas are unsuitable for recreational skating because they are not designed to provide the controlled environment required for such activities.
Instead, LASTMA advised residents to use designated recreational areas, private compounds and other locations considered suitable for skating.
The agency also encouraged users to wear appropriate protective equipment, including helmets, knee pads and elbow pads when engaging in skating activities in appropriate locations.
LASTMA Calls for Greater Parental Supervision
The traffic authority specifically called on parents and guardians to pay attention to where children and young people use wheeled footwear.
LASTMA said adult supervision is particularly important because younger users may not fully appreciate the risks associated with mixing recreational skating with vehicular traffic.
Schools and caregivers were also urged to discourage children from engaging in such activities on public roads.
The authority's warning comes as part of its broader road-safety messaging aimed at reducing avoidable risks involving vulnerable road users.
Motorists Also Urged to Exercise Caution
LASTMA did not place responsibility solely on people using wheeled footwear.
The agency also urged motorists to exercise heightened vigilance around children and young people who may be using such footwear, particularly in areas where they could suddenly enter the traffic stream.
Residential areas, estates and school zones were specifically highlighted as locations where motorists should remain alert.
Children and teenagers may move unpredictably, and the additional speed provided by wheeled footwear could make it harder for both the user and approaching motorists to react in time.
LASTMA therefore encouraged drivers to remain cautious and prepared for vulnerable road users in these environments.
LASTMA: Road Safety Is a Shared Responsibility
LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki described road safety as a collective responsibility requiring vigilance, discipline and respect for the dangers associated with public roads.
He stressed that the protection of human life should remain the priority.
Bakare-Oki said recreational activities should not expose participants or other road users to unnecessary danger.
The agency's position is that skating itself is not the problem; rather, the concern is using wheeled recreational devices in locations where people are exposed to moving traffic.
That distinction is reflected in LASTMA's advice that residents should move skating activities to designated recreational facilities and other safe environments rather than highways and other busy traffic corridors.
Residents Can Report Dangerous Traffic Situations
LASTMA also reminded members of the public that they can report dangerous traffic situations and incidents requiring urgent traffic-management intervention.
The authority provided its toll-free short code, 3367, for reports involving dangerous traffic situations, road obstructions, crashes and vehicle breakdowns.
According to LASTMA, reports from members of the public can help facilitate timely intervention by traffic-management officials and other relevant responders.
Why Wheeled Shoes Can Be Risky on Busy Roads
Rolling skate shoes and similar footwear are designed to allow users to move by rolling rather than walking. While they can be used recreationally in suitable environments, public highways present different conditions.
A person wearing wheeled footwear may have to stop or change direction quickly when confronted by a vehicle, motorcycle or pedestrian.
The presence of moving traffic also means that a small loss of balance or a delayed reaction can potentially put the user directly in the path of a vehicle.
LASTMA's concern is therefore focused on the interaction between recreational wheeled devices and roads designed primarily for motorised transportation.
The authority said designated recreational spaces provide a safer environment because they allow users to participate in skating without having to simultaneously navigate unpredictable vehicle movements.
LASTMA Reiterates Safety Message
The Lagos traffic authority's latest warning is directed particularly at young people, but its broader message applies to all road users.
Residents who use roller skates, rolling skate shoes or similar wheeled devices are being advised to keep recreational activities away from highways, expressways, bridges and other busy roads.
Parents, schools and caregivers have also been asked to help ensure that children understand the risks.
At the same time, motorists are being encouraged to remain alert around vulnerable road users, especially in residential communities and school areas.
LASTMA said safer roads require cooperation between motorists, pedestrians, parents, young people and other road users.
The agency's position is that recreational activities should take place in locations suitable for them, while public highways should remain focused on safe movement of vehicles and other authorised road users.
The warning does not amount to a general ban on skating as a recreational activity. Rather, LASTMA is urging residents to avoid using wheeled footwear on roads where moving traffic creates additional risks.
For Lagos residents who enjoy skating, the agency's advice is straightforward: use designated recreational areas, private compounds or other suitable locations, wear appropriate protective equipment and keep away from busy highways and other traffic corridors.
