New South Wales police have charged a 45-year-old man after a nine-year-old boy was allegedly caught steering a car on a major highway in the early hours of the morning. The incident occurred on the Great Western Highway at Mount Lambie, approximately 120km west of Sydney, at 1.35am on Saturday 7 March.
Police allege that the man, who was experiencing 'significant fatigue', was operating the pedals while the boy sat on his lap and steered the vehicle. The car was detected by a seatbelt detection camera, which captured the unrestrained child on the man's lap.
After inquiries, officers attended the man's home at Lightning Ridge on Wednesday 11 March and spoke to him. He was subsequently issued with a court notice and charged with four offences: driving recklessly or dangerously, negligent driving, driving without proper control of a vehicle, and driving with a passenger seatbelt not properly fastened.
Police have notified the Department of Communities and Justice. The man is due to appear at Walgett local court on Tuesday 28 April.
