Kids behind wheels

I was watching CNN the other day when a story of a 7 year-old driving a family SUV in Canada came out. In the video, which they put up on YouTube, shown that the boy's father (who believed to be the cameraman) cheered the boy encouragingly. In the car, there were also the boy's mother and a baby... Hmmm... I was shocked! I really couldn't tell how fast the car was going but that's secondary.. What asshole of a parent would allow his 7 year old to drive?! According to CNN, the father has been arrested. More on that story here.

And then, CNN showed another picture of also a 7 year old who stole his grandmother's car to escape church. I found that it's not even funny nor cute as commented in YouTube. This boy is still a child, and if he could come up with this at such an early age, imagine what he'd do when he's an adult? Who's to blame here?

On another but similar note, I always noticed how Malaysian drivers can be careless. Especially those with children in tow. I always noticed how the mothers would put their toddlers on their lap without safety belt on and with the father driving like a maniac! And then, at traffic lights you could see the small children bouncing around at the backseat. What happen to child seat & baby seat? I am sure they are cheaper than the children lives.

I remember when I was a kid myself, how my parents would not bring me out if I misbehaved. Once I cried and kicked the back of the driver's seat because my brother wouldn't spare me a chewing gum, my dad actually drove all the way home, dropped me and drove off again with the rest. Naturally, I learned my lesson... I didn't cry because I knew it's my fault. Back then, child seat was scarce, expensive if there was any...

You know, accident happens.. but we can minimize the pain if we take pre-caution measures for the children and for ourselves. Don't wait until it's too late!