**Lagos Traffic Authority Saves Lives, Impounds Over 17,000 Errant Vehicles in 2025** In a bid to reduce road crashes and improve traffic safety in Lagos, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has rescued 1,075 crash victims and impounded 17,169 vehicles for traffic offences across the state in 2025. According to LASTMA's Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, the rescues were carried out through a combination of rapid response strategies, coordinated inter-agency operations, and targeted deployment of personnel to high-risk areas. This ensured that accident victims received prompt and life-saving assistance. The breakdown of the impounded vehicles reveals a staggering 5,581 private cars and 10,825 commercial vehicles, with offences ranging from reckless driving and overloading to mechanical defects and obstruction. In addition, 760 motorists were arrested for driving against traffic, a common menace on Lagos roads. LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, attributes the agency's success to a shift towards proactive traffic governance. "Our officers risk their safety to secure crash scenes, coordinate with medical responders, and prevent secondary accidents," he says. The agency warns that many crashes involve excessive speed, mechanical failure, driver fatigue, impaired driving, and hazardous manoeuvres such as one-way driving. Impounding vehicles is part of a broader strategy to remove unsafe vehicles from the roads and reinforce compliance with traffic laws. While enforcement remains crucial, LASTMA emphasizes that improving road safety requires cooperation from motorists, transport unions, fleet operators, and the public. To this end, the agency has reaffirmed its commitment to life-saving interventions, disciplined enforcement, and public education. In a broader context, LASTMA's efforts align with the state's push to deconcentrate road transport through the use of rail and pipeline systems. By reducing pressure on roads, the state hopes to significantly curb accidents and improve traffic safety. LASTMA has also taken steps to improve public engagement and accountability, including the inauguration of a toll-free hotline to report traffic obstructions, breakdowns, emergencies, and complaints against personnel. This initiative has received a positive response, with over 3,450 cases resolved through the hotline. As Lagos continues to grapple with traffic congestion and road safety challenges, LASTMA's efforts serve as a reminder of the critical role that effective traffic management plays in saving lives and reducing accidents on our roads.