A 45-year-old man has been charged after a nine-year-old boy was allegedly found steering a car on a major highway in New South Wales while the man operated the pedals. The incident occurred at 1.35am on Saturday 7 March on the Great Western Highway at Mount Lambie, about 120km west of Sydney.
Police said a seatbelt detection camera captured the car with the unrestrained child sitting on the man's lap. Officers attended the man's home at Lightning Ridge on Wednesday 11 March and spoke to him. He was subsequently issued 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 allege the man was experiencing significant fatigue and was operating the pedals while the boy steered. The man is due to appear at Walgett Local Court on Tuesday 28 April. NSW Police have notified the Department of Communities and Justice.
