British Father Faces Charges After Allowing 9-Year-Old Son to Steer Car in Phuket

Phuket –

Police in Phuket have charged a British national after a viral video showed him allowing his nine-year-old son to sit on his lap and steer a moving car along a public road.

The incident, filmed by a passerby this week outside a property on Chao Fa West Road in Wichit, quickly spread across social media. The footage captured the boy controlling the wheel of a grey sedan, swerving erratically and braking suddenly, raising concerns for the safety of other road users.

Following the video’s circulation, the Wichit Police Station, ordered investigators to track down the driver. Officers later located the man, identified as Mr. Mark, 41, of British nationality, at his residence in Chalong. The sedan seen in the video was also found at the property.

During questioning, Mr. Mark admitted he was the person in the footage and confirmed he had allowed his son to steer the vehicle on the day in question. Police later impounded the car and filed charges.

Authorities stated that Mr. Grant faces prosecution for:

• Driving without regard for the safety or convenience of others
• Allowing an unlicensed person to operate his vehicle
• Encouraging or permitting a child to behave inappropriately, potentially leading to misconduct

The charges fall under Thailand’s Road Traffic Act, Vehicle Act of 1979, and the Child Protection Act of 2003.

Police said that such behavior poses serious risks and will be met with strict enforcement to protect public safety.