LASTMA Intervenes to Save 353 Road Accident Victims Within Five Months

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has announced that its Rescue and Emergency Response Unit successfully extricated and saved 353 individuals involved in various road traffic crashes and emergency incidents across the state between January and May 2026. This data release coincides with an urgent safety warning from state traffic executives, cautioning motorists to radically adapt their driving behaviors as heavy, persistent rainfall continues to heighten commuting risks throughout Lagos.

A statement issued on Sunday, June 21, 2026, by the agency’s spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, provided a demographic breakdown of the individuals rescued over the five-month monitoring window:

Reviewing the emergency response unit's operational metrics, LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki emphasized that the onset of the peak rainy season multiplies existing roadway hazards, requiring higher compliance from all commuter tiers:

• Evolving Roadway Dangers: Bakare-Oki pointed out that persistent downpours introduce severe environmental threats, including dramatically reduced visibility, slippery road surfaces, sudden mechanical failures, and flash floods that compromise vehicle traction.
• Preventable Crashes: While expressing pride in the lives preserved by the agency's swift field deployments, the LASTMA boss stated that a significant percentage of these tracked collisions could have been entirely averted. He linked major incidents to preventable human errors, notably reckless overtaking and a widespread failure to maintain a safe braking distance.
• Vehicle Maintenance Directive: To lower the likelihood of wet-weather emergencies, the agency has advised commercial transport operators, private motorists, and motorcyclists to perform comprehensive safety audits on critical vehicle components. Drivers are urged to verify the efficiency of their braking systems, tyre tread depths, windshield wipers, steering mechanisms, and indicator lights before hitting the highways.

LASTMA field commands have finalized tactical deployments along primary corridors prone to hydroplaning and traffic delays, ensuring that heavy tow trucks and paramedic assets remain positioned to execute rapid clearings and maintain fluid vehicular movement across the metropolis.