I don't believe this newspaper story. Perhaps the child was in fourth grade, but not four years old. The fine skills of finding the correct key, twisting the ignition, actuating the brake while shifting into gear (brake interlock on automatics) or balancing clutch and gas (manual transmissions) are too complex for a little baby.
I'm waving the B.S. flag at the newspaper for this story.
~ Blue Jays ~
I live in Milwaukee, WI and this story made our local morning radio news. They also stated that the boy was 4 years old.
My ex-girlfriend's 4-year old daughter once got the car keys, started the car, backed out of the driveway, and then proceeded to drive it into a gate. She was going to the store. It is hard to imagine a 4 year old driving all the way to a store and back.
Don't be fooled into thinking for one minute that a four year old couldn't figure out how to drive a car. I have a son who just turned 5. When he was four, he would get in my mom's Ford Ranger and sit next to her on the seat. He watched EVERYTHING she did! He knew how it was started, to pull down on the gear shift, EVERYTHING!! Needless to say, we PULL the keys from EVERY vehicle and lock them. He still says that he can drive a car!! We just don't give him the chance! I saw this on last nights news. This car that this kid drove was an older model too, which probably doesn't have some of the 'safety mechanisms' that newer cars would have.
Many automatics on the road have no brake interlock. I have a now 5 year old who could have done this at 4, no sweat. We kept the keys away from her.