Beyond fines: LASTMA’s saves 1,075 injured drivers, passengers across Lagos roads in 2025

Stanley Ihedigbo

In 2025, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) went beyond ticketing and vehicle impoundments to become a lifeline for Lagos motorists, rescuing 1,075 injured drivers and passengers from traffic crashes across the state.

Through rapid response, coordinated emergency efforts, and strategic deployment to high-risk roads, the Authority turned accident scenes into opportunities to save lives and restore safety on Lagos roads.

According to the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, these lifesaving interventions were executed through rapid response frameworks, inter-agency collaboration, and the strategic deployment of personnel to traffic hotspots across Lagos State.

According to operational statistics, LASTMA impounded 5,581 private vehicles and 10,825 commercial vehicles for various traffic infractions, ranging from reckless driving, overloading, and mechanical failures to obstruction of traffic and other regulatory violations.

Additionally, 760 motorists were apprehended for driving against one-way traffic—a recurrent cause of severe collisions on Lagos roads.

The Authority’s General Manager, Mr. Bakare-Oki Olalekan, emphasised that these figures reflect a deliberate shift toward proactive traffic governance, leveraging modern technology, intelligence-led enforcement, and continuous public sensitisation to promote responsible driving behaviour.

He noted that LASTMA personnel often face operational hazards while rescuing victims, securing crash scenes, and coordinating with emergency responders to prevent secondary incidents.

Analysis of crash causes revealed that excessive speed, impaired driving, fatigue, mechanical failures, and hazardous manoeuvres—particularly one-way driving—remain major contributors to traffic injuries.

LASTMA stressed that the impoundment of vehicles plays a crucial role in deterring unsafe practices, removing dangerous vehicles from the roads, and reinforcing traffic law compliance.

While enforcement remains central, the Authority underscored that lasting road safety outcomes require collaboration with motorists, transport unions, fleet operators, and the wider public.

In line with this, LASTMA amplified its advocacy initiatives, stakeholder engagement programs, and targeted sensitisation campaigns throughout the year.

Comprehensive operational reviews indicated that LASTMA’s rapid interventions significantly reduced injury severity, prevented fatalities, and restored normal traffic flow following accidents.

The General Manager highlighted the Agency’s strategic focus on three pillars: prevention, early risk identification, and immediate incident response—key elements in managing mobility in a fast-growing megacity.

The Authority also integrated technology-driven monitoring, intelligence-led deployment, continuous training for officers, and strengthened coordination with emergency responders, ensuring effective and timely interventions.

Despite the progress, LASTMA maintained that road safety is a shared responsibility. Motorists were urged to adhere to speed limits, maintain roadworthy vehicles, avoid one-way driving, and comply with lawful directives from traffic officers.

Reaffirming its commitment to public safety, LASTMA pledged to sustain enforcement momentum, deepen road safety education, and deploy forward-looking strategies to address emerging transportation challenges.

Its disciplined approach to enforcement, rapid response, and behavioural reorientation continues to protect lives and enhance safety outcomes for all Lagos road users.