A father has been arrested in Perth, Australia, after a video posted on social media showed him handing the wheel to his 3-year-old son while the vehicle was driving in a residential area.

In the disturbing footage, the child is seen sitting on his father's lap, his hands on the steering wheel, as the father urges him to keep driving. During the video, the man is heard repeatedly giving instructions to the little one, urging him not to crash. "Go straight, go straight. On the sidewalk, on the sidewalk," he is heard telling the child as the vehicle continues to move. Finally, the car stops after reaching a path and the father is heard saying, "We did it."

The video sparked a backlash, and Australian authorities stepped in after it was released. Police arrested the father on Saturday, and he is expected to appear in court on October 2. Authorities have described the incident as “deeply disturbing,” noting the extreme danger posed to the child. Western Australia’s state minister, Matthew Swinburne, also reacted strongly after seeing the footage. He said he was outraged and that the act should be punished in the harshest possible way.

"There is no protection," Swinburne said, noting that a potential accident could have left the child dead or permanently disabled. He called the behavior irresponsible, especially at a time when Australian authorities are trying to reduce the number of road fatalities.