Question:
We saw a VERY YOUNG person driving a car without any adults inside.
We could not stop the car as we were jogging and did not have phones with us to take pictures.
As parents, we then want to see what the fine implications would be if that kid is caught.
He was between 8 – 10yrs old … SCARY that parents allow that.
We tried Google but can not find what legally would happen to parents should such a kid been caught.
Answer:
The section below of the National Road Traffic Act applies.
If the child was driving on a public road the parent who is the owner of the vehicle will be prosecuted. Children between 8 and 14 years are presumed to not commit offences knowingly and a court would normally only prosecute the parent.
If this happened on a farm or private road like inside an estate (ruling from Appeal Court in 2019 says roads inside a walled estate are not public roads), it is not regarded as a public road and would not be an offence.
Sec 31. Unlicensed driver not to be employed or permitted to drive a motor vehicle
No person who is the owner or operator, or is in charge, or control, of a motor vehicle, shall employ or permit any other person to drive that vehicle on a public road unless that other person is licensed in accordance with this Chapter to drive the vehicle.
Regards
Alta