DOTr suspends license of driver who let child steer vehicle in viral video

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday said it has imposed a 90-day suspension on the license of a driver who let a child control the steering wheel of their moving vehicle at the parking lot of a mall in Parañaque City.

"Suspendido na ng 90 araw ang lisensya ng driver sa viral video kung saan kitang may kalong siyang bata habang nagmamaneho, at hinayaan pa ang batang magkontrol ng manibela," the DOTr said in a statement.

(The driver's license has been suspended for 90 days after he was seen in a viral video with a child on his lap while driving and even letting the child control the steering wheel.)

Citing the show cause order issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the DOTr said the incident happened on August 12.

In the viral video, the child was seen on the man's lap while steering the car along the mall's parking driveways. Oncoming and parked vehicles were within the view of the man and the child.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon reminded that children are prohibited from driving.

"Hindi mo puwedeng pagmanehuhin 'yung bata mong anak na walang student permit, tapos musmos pa. Kabilin-bilinan ng Pangulo, sumunod na lang tayo sa batas, dahil baka hindi lang license suspension ang abutin mo, puwedeng makulong ka pa," he said.

(You can't let your child drive without a student permit, especially those at a young age. The President's order is that we just follow the law, because you might not only get a license suspension, you could even go to jail.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News