Source : Perth Now news
A man has been charged after a video was posted online of a three-year-old allegedly behind the wheel of a Toyota Hilux driving through the streets of Perth.
Police allege the child appeared to “have control of steering the vehicle” in the video, which was uploaded to social media.
“Three-year-old driving a Hilux what a legend,” the video caption allegedly read.
Footage obtained by 9News allegedly showed the child behind the wheel as car swayed over the road, while the man laughed in the background.
“Oh s**t, go straight, straight!” the man allegdly said in the video as the small child held the wheel.
“Straight mate, go!”
The car continues down the residential street with the child turning the steering wheel as the man shouts instructions, before coming to a stop on the footpath.
The man was arrested on Saturday and has been charged with one count of reckless driving.
He will appear before Joondalup Magistrates Court on October 2.
Superintendent Michael Dalla-Costa sad the alleged incident was “deeply concerning”.
“Every parent and caregiver has a responsibility to keep children safe,” he said.
”What we have seen in this vision is deeply concerning because it appears to show a very young child being allowed to control a moving vehicle.”
He said children rely on adults to “make safe decisions on their behalf”.
“A vehicle is not a toy, and allowing a child to steer a moving vehicle, particularly if not properly restrained, can have serious consequences,” he said.
Superintendent Dalla-Costa said the incident “could have ended in tragedy”.
“When people watch footage like this, it is easy to focus on what happened. We also need to think about what could have happened,” he said.
“One unexpected movement, a child running onto the road, a cyclist, a pedestrian, or a simple mistake could have ended in tragedy.
“Had this vehicle lost control or been involved in a crash, the child would have been vulnerable to serious injury.”
He said “it makes me wonder if the adult (allegedly) responsible considered what the impact of this would be on their family, witnesses and the wider community”.
Anyone who witnessed the alleged incident or has footage is urged to assist investigators.
