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■前座乘客不應抱著兒童或讓他們坐在大腿上，以免一旦發生交通意外，兒童可能會被拋出車外。 資料圖片
一名父親讓2歲男童坐在腿上操控方向盤駕車，由母親在背後拍攝，2人分別被控危險駕駛和教唆危駕。被告律師求情時說，2人行為出於愚昧，坦言會承擔責任，而事後2人受網民嚴厲批評，造成極大壓力及困擾，希望法官輕判。抱子駕車者固然出於愚昧，但愚昧會導致嚴重後果，令案情更加嚴重，2人受網民嚴厲批評證明其行為令人無法容忍。
根據香港法例規定，2歲或以下兒童乘坐私家車前座時，必須使用認可束縛設備將身體扣緊在座位上。香港運輸署的網站亦列明，前座乘客不應抱著兒童，或者讓他們坐在大腿上，以免一旦發生交通意外，兒童可能會被拋出車外，或者被夾於乘客與車輛的儀表板之間，為安全起見，應該安排小童坐在後座。
抱子駕車在世界上大多數地方都是違法的。荷里活明星布蘭妮曾經抱子駕車以擺脫狗仔隊的跟蹤，觸犯加州法例，被美國交通部長明尼塔斥責：「無論你是誰，都絕對沒有任何理由作出此舉，在任何時候以犧牲兒童的安全為代價都是極其不負責任的行為！」讓2歲兒童坐在父親大腿上駕車，更是不負責任的行為，理應受到懲罰。
Conviction signals warning for holding a child while driving
A father who let his 2-year-old boy sit on his lap and control the steering wheel of a car was convicted of dangerous driving, while the mother, who videoed the whole process behind them, was convicted of aiding and abetting dangerous driving. In pleading for mercy, the lawyer representing the defendants said that it was an act of stupidity and that the couple had undertaken to assume responsibility. He added that as the parents were fiercely criticized by netizens on the web, which had caused them great pressure and disturbances, he wished the judge would give a lighter sentence. It is obvious that holding a child while driving is an act of stupidity but it is a kind of stupidity that would lead to grave consequences, which is what makes the case even more serious. The fierce criticism by netizens simply proves that the couple's action is intolerable.
Under the existing law of Hong Kong, children at the age of two or less, when placed in the front seat of a private car, must be securely fastened to the seat by means of an approved restraint. It is also clearly stated on the web page of the Transport Department that a front seat passenger should not hold a child or let a child sit on his/her lap lest the child may be thrown out of the car or pressed between the passenger and the dashboard in case of a traffic accident. For the sake of safety, children should be placed in rear seats.
In most parts of the world, it is illegal to hold a child on the lap while driving. Hollywood star Britney Spears once held her son on her lap as she drove to escape the stalking paparazzi. Her act was in violation of the law of the State of California, and the United States Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta reprimanded Spears by saying, "No matter who you are, there's absolutely no excuse for this display... It's irresponsible to compromise the safety of a child for the sake of the moment." Letting a two-year-old child sit on the lap of the father and control the steering wheel is an irresponsible act and should be a punishable offence. ■Translation by 東明 tungming23@gmail.com
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