By Chris Onuoha
A fun-loving rolling skate shoes and kits often used for recreational and leisure purposes has eventually turned to a life threatening business-purpose rides, as captured by the the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
The agency under whose care Lagos State manages every traffic situation, was disturbed at the rate, the once fun-loving skater, was converted to business sales and advertising device on major highways and busy streets in the State.
The agency thereby cautioned members of the public, particularly children, teenagers and young adults against the use of rolling skate shoes, wheeled footwear and similar recreational devices on public highways and other vehicular corridors, warning that such practices expose users to grave and entirely avoidable traffic hazards.
The Authority observed that the increasing use of footwear fitted with concealed or retractable wheels on roads designed primarily for motorised traffic, constitutes a serious safety concern, particularly where users attempt to glide alongside moving vehicles, cross carriageways indiscriminately or manoeuvre through traffic without adequate protective measures and adult supervision.
The agency stressed that the glider shoes specifically designed to glide within recreational facilities, should not be used on a dynamic and highly unpredictable environment and public highways with movement of vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians and other road users, adding that errant users are prone to sudden devastating collisions and life-altering injuries.
LASTMA, therefore advises parents, guardians, schools and caregivers to discourage children and other vulnerable road users from engaging in recreational activities involving rolling skate shoes on highways, expressways, bridges, service lanes and other locations where vehicular traffic is permitted.
The Authority further urges users to restrict activities to designated recreational areas, private compounds or other safe environments.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reiterated that road safety is a collective responsibility which requires constant vigilance, discipline and respect for the inherent risks associated with public roads.
He emphasised that the preservation of human life must remain paramount, noting that no recreational activity is sufficiently important to justify exposing oneself or other road users to unnecessary danger.
Meanwhile, beyond LASTMA observations and cautions, some companies, in the process to advance their guerilla marketing strategy, engage skate users for that purpose. Some of the users running as auxiliary marketers, do so without safety consciousness.
One of these group of young men who spoke to Newsnow.africa on anonymity basis, said he do it as side hustle.
The young school leader said, targets are placed on sales, and this prompts the aggression employed to hit target.
He also mentioned that on several occasions, he was hit by errant commercial drivers and Okada riders.
#LASTMA, #LagosState #Enviroment #newsnow.africa #Safety
