Perth man charged after video shows three-year-old steering car

A man has been charged with reckless driving in Perth after social media footage emerged showing a three-year-old child allegedly steering a Toyota Hilux. The video depicts the unrestrained child sitting on an adult's lap while the vehicle sways across a residential street. In the recording, the adult can be heard shouting instructions to the child to “go straight” and “go up the curb” before the car comes to a stop on a footpath.

Superintendent Michael Dalla-Costa described the incident as “deeply concerning,” noting that the situation “could have ended in tragedy” due to potential hazards like pedestrians or cyclists. Former police officer Karl O’Callaghan also criticized the stunt, labeling it one of the most dangerous things he had witnessed. The accused man is scheduled to appear before the Joondalup Magistrates Court on October 2.