A video has recently gone viral, sparking widespread concern and criticism, after showing a man driving a car with his young daughter sitting on his lap. The footage was shared by Dr. Ashwin Rajenesh, an emergency medicine expert, on X (formerly Twitter), and has since ignited a heated debate about road safety and parental responsibility.
Looks adorable.
But in the event of a frontal collision and subsequent airbag deployment, the infant’s skull would be accelerated at ~320km/hr 6-8 inches into the man’s thoracic cage, killing both instantly.
Indian parents need a harsh reality check.pic.twitter.com/1KnhIDDwF5— Ashwin Rajenesh MD (@ashwinrajenesh) July 25, 2024
In the video, the child is initially seen sleeping peacefully on her father’s lap as he drives. As the clip progresses, she wakes up and is seen talking and playing with her father, who continues to drive. Dr. Rajenesh used this video to highlight the grave dangers associated with such behavior, warning that it could result in tragic consequences in the event of an accident.
“Looks adorable. But in the event of a frontal collision and subsequent airbag deployment, the infant’s skull would be accelerated at ~320km/hr 6-8 inches into the man’s thoracic cage, killing both instantly. Indian parents need a harsh reality check,” Dr. Rajenesh wrote while sharing the video.
He further commented, “I’m sure that this dad loves his daughter dearly, and I really wish to believe that this dangerous indulgence of child endangerment was a singular lapse of his better judgment. Hoping he & other parents can realize the potential dangers involved in such practices, and do better.”
The video has prompted a flurry of responses from users, many of whom agreed with Dr. Rajenesh’s assessment and emphasized the risks and potential dangers involved in such actions.
One user wrote, “Poor judgment, risk assessment and hazard awareness. This is what happens when stupidity combines with ignorance of road safety and lack of enforcement of traffic rules.”
Another commented, “Also the irresponsibility towards other drivers on the road. The driver of this car is constantly distracted and is a risk to everyone else on the road.”
A third user added, “They need to be careful when there is a young child and infants in the car. One wrong decision and mistake can change a whole life.” A fourth shared a personal anecdote, saying, “A sudden brake can cause serious damage. Once in my teens, my cousin’s toddler was sitting on my lap in the front seat. The car jumped into a large pothole, and I heard a loud bang, which I thought was from the bottom of the car. It was the sound of my niece’s head banging on the dash.”
As of now, the details of where and when the video was filmed remain unknown.
