Child in Driver Seat of Tesla Sparks Hong Kong Traffic Violation Outcry

A short video circulating online shows a 7‑ to 8‑year‑old boy seated in the driver’s position of a white Tesla private car parked at a traffic light on Fuk Wa Street in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong. The child repeatedly turns the steering wheel while a female passenger sits beside him, prompting widespread criticism on social media.

Under Hong Kong’s Road Traffic Ordinance (Section 42), allowing an unlicensed person to operate a vehicle can result in a fine of up to HK$5,000 and up to three months’ imprisonment. Police have previously arrested a 22‑year‑old man in March for a similar dangerous‑driving incident involving a child on his lap. Earlier cases, including a 2011 incident in Cheung Sha Wan, were also cited.

The incident has reignited public debate about road safety and parental responsibility, with netizens commenting that “children need a licence before they drive” and questioning the enforcement of traffic regulations.