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| Drunk man let seven-year-old drive, police say | Drunk man let seven-year-old drive, police say |
| (3 months later) | |
| A drunk father let his seven-year-old son drive him around the Gold Coast at 3am, police allege. | A drunk father let his seven-year-old son drive him around the Gold Coast at 3am, police allege. |
| A police patrol pulled the car over after it drove by without its headlights on early on Friday. They discovered the boy behind the wheel when they opened the driver's door. | A police patrol pulled the car over after it drove by without its headlights on early on Friday. They discovered the boy behind the wheel when they opened the driver's door. |
| It's alleged his father was drunk in the passenger seat beside him. | It's alleged his father was drunk in the passenger seat beside him. |
| A 41-year-old NSW man has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and being an adult in charge under the influence of liquor. | A 41-year-old NSW man has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and being an adult in charge under the influence of liquor. |
| He is expected to fact Southport Magistrates Court on 3 July. | He is expected to fact Southport Magistrates Court on 3 July. |
| The boy is reportedly in the care of relatives after they travelled from NSW following the incident, which happened on The Esplanade at Surfers Paradise. | The boy is reportedly in the care of relatives after they travelled from NSW following the incident, which happened on The Esplanade at Surfers Paradise. |
| The father failed a roadside breath test. | The father failed a roadside breath test. |
| Police could not confirm media reports he was three times over the legal blood alcohol limit. | Police could not confirm media reports he was three times over the legal blood alcohol limit. |
| Royal Automobile Club Queensland (RACQ) senior road safety adviser Joel Tucker said the case was shocking. | Royal Automobile Club Queensland (RACQ) senior road safety adviser Joel Tucker said the case was shocking. |
| "Children at that age don't have the mental or physical capabilities to drive a car safely," Tucker told AAP. | "Children at that age don't have the mental or physical capabilities to drive a car safely," Tucker told AAP. |
| "It is a real concern to hear that children were being put in that position." | "It is a real concern to hear that children were being put in that position." |
| Tucker said incidents of underage driving were rare in Queensland. | Tucker said incidents of underage driving were rare in Queensland. |
| "This is a unique case, it's not something we hear about regularly and that's a good thing." | "This is a unique case, it's not something we hear about regularly and that's a good thing." |
| Tucker said apart from the obvious physical problems with someone so young driving a car, the child's inability to understand basic road rules or how a car operates makes it highly dangerous. | Tucker said apart from the obvious physical problems with someone so young driving a car, the child's inability to understand basic road rules or how a car operates makes it highly dangerous. |
| "The age to drive by yourself in Queensland is 17 years and that's after having done 100 hours of supervised experience and passing a driving test," he said. | "The age to drive by yourself in Queensland is 17 years and that's after having done 100 hours of supervised experience and passing a driving test," he said. |
| "They don't have the skills, ability or knowledge and nor should they at that age." | "They don't have the skills, ability or knowledge and nor should they at that age." |
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