Video shows child steering car on busy Phuket road, drawing online criticism

A video showing a young foreign child steering a car on a busy public road in Phuket has sparked outrage online, with social media users questioning the actions of the adults in the vehicle.

The clip was shared by a well-known Phuket news page on the evening of June 9. It showed a young foreign boy, believed to be under 10 years old, sitting on the lap of a foreign adult in the driver’s seat while the car was travelling along Chao Fa Road toward the Central Phuket intersection.

The person who recorded the video said they first noticed the car swerving from side to side, prompting vehicles behind it to slow down and keep their distance. They initially suspected the driver might be intoxicated or inexperienced.

After moving closer, the person filming said they saw the boy holding the steering wheel while seated on the adult’s lap, with the adult appearing to help steer.

Amarin TV reported that the video quickly drew criticism after it was posted online. Many commenters questioned how an adult could allow a child to drive on a public road.

Some social media users said guardians in other countries could face immediate legal action over such conduct. Others asked why similar behaviour could still be seen on Thai roads and called on police to intervene.

Commenters also noted that Chao Fa Road is a busy main road and warned that any accident could have endangered the family as well as other road users.

Many netizens urged officials to investigate and take legal action if any laws were broken, while also calling for equal treatment regardless of whether those involved were Thai or foreign.