LASTMA records 1,409 road crashes, rescues 670 in nine months

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) responded to 1,409 (one thousand, four hundred and nine) traffic crashes in the last one month.

LASTMA also rescued 670 (six hundred and seventy) victims from the reported accidents during the same period.

These were contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the agency, Adebayo Taofiq, and made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday.

Adebayo described the success of the agency as a result of the “Sustained commitment to mitigating crash-related casualties, facilitating prompt interventions and reinforcing incident-response mechanisms across Lagos State’s increasingly complex transportation network.”

According to him, “LASTMA operatives are routinely deployed to crash scenes to conduct preliminary assessments, facilitate victims’ rescue, implement strategic traffic diversions and forestall secondary collisions.

These interventions also help alleviate congestion, restore traffic fluidity and facilitate unhindered access for relevant response agencies.”

He also added that “The rescue of 670 accident victims underscores the humanitarian dimension of LASTMA’s statutory responsibilities.”

Adebayo, however, noted that “Despite hazardous and unpredictable circumstances, LASTMA personnel continue to demonstrate professionalism, vigilance and dedication while coordinating assistance with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and other relevant first responders.”

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The General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, reaffirmed the agency’s unwavering commitment to strengthening its incident-response capabilities, intensifying public enlightenment and promoting strict compliance with prevailing traffic regulations.

He emphasised that prompt incident reporting and effective inter-agency collaboration remained indispensable to reducing casualties and enhancing road safety outcomes.

Bakare-Oki urged motorists to observe prescribed speed limits, obey traffic signals, wear seat belts, maintain roadworthy vehicles and eschew distracted driving and reckless manoeuvres capable of jeopardising human lives.

He stressed that defensive driving and responsible motoring remained fundamental safeguards against preventable road traffic crashes.

The LASTMA boss further called on private drivers, commercial transport operators, dispatch riders and pedestrians to exercise heightened vigilance, respect traffic directives and promptly report road crashes, obstructions and other incidents requiring intervention through LASTMA’s toll-free short code, 3367.

LASTMA remains resolute in advancing proactive incident response, strengthening inter-agency collaboration and sustaining road safety advocacy. The authority therefore urges all road users to embrace responsible conduct and recognise that protecting human lives is both a statutory obligation and a collective moral imperative.