Belgian police officers on Friday caught a 12-year-old driving near a checkpoint after noticing a suspiciously slow-moving car, Walla reported on Sunday.
During routine checks as part of Operation BOB, Belgium’s national designated driver campaign, officers observed a vehicle approaching the checkpoint at an unusually slow speed, which then stopped just eight meters from the inspection point.
The short distance was enough for officers to realize something was wrong. “Very quickly, people realized the driver had a particularly youthful appearance,” police said. As they reached the window, the officers realized that the person behind the wheel was a 12-year-old child.
The father was sitting in the passenger seat. When asked to explain the situation, he said, “I drank too much, so I entrusted the car to my son to drive us home.”
Sober mother had a valid driver's licence
Local media reported that the mother and two additional siblings were seated in the back. A brief check showed that the mother holds a valid driver’s license and tested negative for alcohol on a breathalyzer.
The incident ended without injuries. Police issued citations to both the father and the child and opened an unusual procedure with social welfare authorities over what was described as a “concerning educational situation.” The family was allowed to leave only after the mother moved into the driver’s seat.
Over the weekend, 624 drivers were checked in the area as part of Operation BOB, and six had their licenses immediately suspended for 15 days, five due to alcohol, and one for driving under the influence of cannabis. Two additional drivers received temporary suspensions of three hours until they sobered up.