A man has been arrested after footage allegedly showed a three-year-old child steering a Toyota Hilux down a residential street in northern Perth, Australia. The video, posted on social media on Friday, prompted police to take the man into custody on suspicion of reckless driving.
The clip allegedly shows the child sitting on the man's lap with both arms on the steering wheel as the vehicle swerves along the suburban road. The man is heard in the video telling the boy to "go" and "steer," adding, "Look, there's my hand... Look where you're going. Don't crash. Go straight."
Instructions during the alleged stunt
The man continues to yell instructions, saying, "Go straight, straight. Up the curb, up the curb." The vehicle eventually stops after reaching a footpath, with a voice saying, "We made it."
Police arrested a man at an address in Perth on Saturday in connection with the alleged video. The individual is due to appear in court on October 2. Authorities have described the incident as "deeply concerning."
Police and officials respond
WA Police Superintendent Michael Dalla-Costa 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 added: "A vehicle is not a toy, and allowing a child to steer a moving vehicle, particularly if not properly restrained, can have serious consequences. One unexpected movement, a child running onto the road, a cyclist, a pedestrian, or a simple mistake could have ended in tragedy."
WA Minister Matthew Swinbourn said: "It has made me angry and it needs to be condemned in the strongest terms possible - there's no defence." He added: "If there was an accident, this child would be facing death or permanent injury. We have had so many serious deaths on our roads and the government's messaging around this is everybody's responsibility to be safe and this is just ridiculous."
Former commissioner criticises the act
Former WA Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan said: "I was a traffic cop for about six years and I’ve seen a lot of crazy things." He added: "This has to rank up there with one of the most crazy and dangerous things I have seen. I’m staggered about how stupid this guy actually is."
