4 year old takes to the wheel.

[Saitek]

I couldn't believe this on the news.

Four-year-old's late-night drive
Car driven by boy aged four in Sand Lake, Michigan, US
The unnamed boy had been driving without headlights
A boy of four drove his mother's car on a late-night trip to a video shop in the US state of Michigan, police say.

Although too small to reach the accelerator, he put the car in gear and the idling engine took him to the shut shop, 400m (437yds) away in Sand Lake.

On its return journey the car's weaving attracted a policeman - who followed the apparently driverless vehicle.

The car turned into the boy's apartment block, hit two parked cars and then reversed into the policeman's.

Sgt Jay Osga then realised who was in the driving seat.

"He knew how to go from forward to reverse," Sgt Osga said.

The mother said she taught him how to drive while he was sitting on her lap.

No charges will be brought against the boy or his mother for Friday's incident.

"He's four-years-old. His mom didn't even know he was up," Sand Lake police chief Doug Heugel told The Grand Rapids Press newspaper.

"I don't think he even realises what he did."

Ben

[Craig.]

I really think something needs to be done about automatic cars being able to move off while running idle.
I saw this yesterday, found it funny really, glad no one was hurt.

[eno]

They say that the sign you're getting old is that policemen look young.
I bet that policeman felt ancient

[Hagar]

LOL They get younger. 437 yds eh? When I was that age my parents didn't have a car. I would have walked or run that distance & thought nothing of it.

PS.

I really think something needs to be done about automatic cars being able to move off while running idle.

Not sure what the alternative would be. It would be very difficult to drive an automatic if it wasn't set up like this.

[Saitek]

It couldn't have happened in Britain, well it would be very unlikely because most cars are manuals. I take it this car is an automatic, like most cars in the US. Funny how its back to front there - and the US people drive on the wrong side of the road!

[beaky]

LOL!! Good thing this one had a happy ending, though... not to get all high and mighty, but I wonder if Mom included the most important part of the driving lessons: a very stern warning to never ever try to drive by himself...? Gotta teach them how dangerous it might be; even a 4-yr-old will get that, if you explain it properly.
And from what I know about 4-year-olds, you can't leave stuff like car keys lying around!!

[Craig.]

Perhaps a clutch like pedal. It doesnt have to have a bite point like a manual, but just be pushed to the floor for the gear to engage to pull away. I am sure it can be done and would prevent both incidents like this, and the common incident of a car being knocked into gear and rolling off. Heard of it happening more that once, even happend to my dad in Canada.

[Hagar]

I don't think this has anything to do with the auto principle. The system is well-proven over many years & I see no reaaon to change it. Like everything else, machinery is safe enough providing it's used properly. I drive an auto & never had a problem with it. I always put my foot on the brake pedal before starting the engine or selecting Drive, even with the handbrake on. This is when most accidents with automatics seem likely to happen. In fact it's impossible to start the engine on some models without doing this. Come to think of it, if that young boy couldn't reach the pedals that system would have solved the problem in this case.

I still think Rotty is correct & if he was being taught to drive (or at least steer the car) he should also have been taught the basic rules & potential danger of driving on his own. The average 4 year-old is quite capable of understanding that. I used to let my daughter do the same thing around the airport perimeter track from a very early age but she knew very well that she wasn't allowed to do this on her own until she was old enough. I should have a photo of her doing it somewhere. I'm sure she was much younger than 4.

PS. I should point out that although this was a private road it was not sensible to drive with a young child on my lap. In fact I think it would be illegal to allow a child of this age to sit in the front passenger seat on a public road in this country.

[Ben_M_K]

Man thats funny!

[jordonj]

Not from this perspective...I can tell you that.  It didn't get a lot of press, but a mother ran into a convience store and left her three kids in the car.  The engine was running and one of the kids climbed into the driver's seat...he put it in reverse and the car rolled onto a 4-lane road...the three kids and two other people were killed.

Can you imagine having to live with that?

[Hagar]

Can you imagine having to live with that?

Not sure I could live with it. I've seen many similar "accidents" reported over the years & not always with automatics. Leaving the engine of any vehicle running when the driver is not in it is just plain stupid. Even more so when a child or animal is still inside.

[Dan]

Hee heee..... For copper guy tho... He must be embarrassed!  ;D We had a 13y/o girl over here done for drink driving. Wierd that the kid had to drive there... I walk a mile to work as it is! No trouble.
Dan

[RichieB16]

I don't think this has anything to do with the auto principle. The system is well-proven over many years & I see no reaaon to change it. Like everything else, machinery is safe enough providing it's used properly. I drive an auto & never had a problem with it. I always put my foot on the brake pedal before starting the engine or selecting Drive, even with the handbrake on.

There is a somewhat safety system on newer cars simular to what Doug does.  On most newer cars, you must depress the break pedal in order for the car to shift out of park.  If you don't the shifter will simply remain locked in park.  This will prevent this kind of problem (and the problem of people just accidently bumping the shifter) in the near future.  I figure we'll see a lot less of these kinds of accidents as this becomes more widespread, since they have been doing it for about 10 years (my '96 Camaro is this way) most used cars will now have it as well.  As the 80s and early 90s models start to become less common-so will this type of problem.

[Omag 2.0]

LOL They get younger. 437 yds eh? When I was that age my parents didn't have a car. I would have walked or run that distance & thought nothing of it.

Darn, I really need to learn to think differently than Doug... He mows the grass before my feet...  :)

On the subject I can only say that the principle ( automatic or manual gear) doesn't matter. Accidents will always happen and there will always be smart toddlers that find a way around the safety-features of a machine. if you release the handbrake and put a manually shifted car in neutral, it will be able to roll... So accidents will happen...

But I must say the little guys attitude is very modern, taking the car for a 5 minute walk...  ;D

[Saitek]

Personally I think he's a smart lad!
But although accidents will always happen, t0 they are much more likely to happen in an auto. The handbrake would be difficult for a tot to handle and rolling doesn't present too many dangers generally speaking. An auto will easily go 10 mph on the flat.