The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has impounded 27 vehicles for what it described as grave violations of traffic and safety regulations, particularly vehicular overloading. The enforcement action followed repeated warnings issued by the agency to motorists across the state.
In a statement on Thursday, LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, said the vehicles were impounded during an early-morning, coordinated enforcement exercise.
He explained that the affected vehicles were found to be in flagrant breach of prescribed loading limits and established safety standards, despite sustained public sensitisation efforts.
The agency said the operation was prompted by heightened concerns over the growing risks posed by overloaded vehicles on major highways and densely trafficked inner-city routes.
LASTMA noted a disturbing pattern in which motorists, especially commercial operators, indiscriminately load vehicles with assorted goods, including bulky and perishable items, often stored inside luggage compartments or precariously mounted on vehicle roofs, obstructing visibility and destabilising vehicle balance.
LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the practice as a serious violation of state traffic laws and a major threat to public safety.
He warned that such unsafe practices significantly increase the risk of road crashes and urged motorists to strictly adhere to approved loading capacities, maintain clear visibility, and prioritise roadworthiness and safety at all times.
