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Tuesday May 21, 2013

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'Absolute stupidity': Police slam driving baby video

Posted by: Michael James | 20 February, 2013 - 8:32 AM
<b>WATCH VIDEO:</b> Baby driving car down suburban street.

Police have slammed the actions of an adult driver who allowed a baby to steer a car through a suburban street.

A one-minute clip, which is believed to have been filmed in Melbourne's west, was posted to YouTube and showed the child playing with the wheel while seated on a man's lap.

The man occasionally lets go of the wheel and allows the baby to steer independently.

*Scroll down for video*

Acting Inspector Tim O'Conner, the Brimbank local area commander, said the adult driver is not only putting the child’s life at risk but endangering other road users.

"It is just absolute stupidity" the Acting Inspector told Neil Mitchell.

"It didn’t appear the child was wearing a seatbelt, you’ve got the possibility of an airbag going off - and we know how dangerous they can be to the people sitting in the seats - and also just the fact that it is a danger to other road users" he said.

Police say the man could be facing a range of offences including the serious 'conduct endangering' and a number of different traffic offences.

"It is really a matter of sitting down and going through it (the video) again and make sure we cover everything off" Mr O’Conner said.

The original YouTube video has since been removed.

Anyone who has information regarding the video is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.

WATCH VIDEO: Baby driving car on suburban street

LISTEN:  Acting Inspector Tim O'Conner, Brimbank local area commander, speaks with Neil Mitchell

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3AW Mornings with Neil Mitchell

Neil Mitchell Neil is one of Australia’s most experienced journalists with success in newspapers, radio and television. He was one of the youngest editors of a daily metropolitan newspaper, The Herald.

 

 

Blog comments Your Say

  • The act is irresponsible. Eddy, that's a different issue. This person is exhibiting an individualistic mentality, with no real respect for the child & wider community.
    To post it was another dopey decision.

    Barney Saturday 23 February, 2013 - 11:02 AM

  • As a mother I'm outraged when I watch this video the fact the child is exposed so much risk to make a 1 minute video on YouTube.

    Lauren Friday 22 February, 2013 - 9:42 PM

  • OK, let's look at this in detail. What are the ways in which the child could have been harmed? Two issues have been identified - seat belt and air bag. Air bags very very occasionally deploy spontaneously, but otherwise require some significant deceleration. The car wasn't moving very fast. It's very unlikely that it would collide with anything at all, let alone that it would collide with something hard enough to trigger the air bag. Similarly, the lack of seat belt is only relevant for significant impacts, which were not going to occur at that speed. For either air bags or seat belts to become relevant would require a collision with another moving vehicle. Now, that does happen, but in the context of a vehicle moving slowly in a quiet side street, it happens only rarely. So the child would have been safer had he or she not been in the driver's seat, but the level of risk is such that the difference in safety would be very small. Would I do this with a child? No, I wouldn't, but the reality is still that the child is probably safer there than in a stroller being wheeled down the street, in a bathroom, or being exposed to unvaccinated children. People in general, and specifically the police, need to be able to examine the entire circumstances, rather than assuming that something is very dangerous just because it's unlawful.

    Sylvia Else Thursday 21 February, 2013 - 10:43 PM

  • @Sylvia Else, you are joking aren't you? This is one of the most irresponsible acts of driving and child abuse I have ever seen and NO the father does NOT have control of the vehicle. You should take another look, I bet you are one of those idiots who also thinks that driving whilst texting is not dangerous or perhaps you are one of the dills that posted it on YouTube without thinking of the repercussions!

    Willow Thursday 21 February, 2013 - 12:54 PM

  • Can't we keep things in proportion? Yes, there are some offences being committed here, but the car is moving slowly, and the parent is in control of the vehicle. One can imagine any number of things that could, in theory, go badly wrong, but they're all highly improbable. The child is certainly safer than they would be if, perfectly legally, they were occupying a child's seat behind their parent on a bicycle. So, get real. Not all traffic offences represent a gross dereliction of parental duty, and there are surely real criminals out, the catching of whom would represent a better use of police time. If the parent should read this, I'd say to them "Don't talk to the police AT ALL before getting legal advice".

    Sylvia Else Thursday 21 February, 2013 - 10:46 AM

  • Who was responsible for a more dangerous situation, the dopey parent here or the cops who endangered the public by using them in their cars as a human road block to stop a car that they were pursuing? AND...after the police commissioner had expressed shock that his staff had done such an outrageous thing, took no disciplinary action. AGAIN....a law for them and a law for us.

    Eddy Thursday 21 February, 2013 - 8:53 AM

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