Toddler found standing over gear-stick of moving car at Hastings police checkpoint

A toddler was found standing over a car's gear stick at a police checkpoint. Photo/File

An 18-month-old child was found standing over the gear stick of a moving car during a police sting.

Sergeant Cam Donnison of Hawke's Bay Road Policing said officers came across the toddler at a road policing checkpoint in Hastings yesterday.

There was an empty child seat in the back but the driver chose not to use it, Donnison said.

"We were also very alarmed at the number of children unrestrained in the back and front seat of cars," he said.

"This sort of behaviour could result in a completely preventable tragedy occurring on our roads."

Donnison said in less than an hour police issued 14 tickets to people not wearing seatbelts and 12 to drivers using mobile phones during the Heretaunga St West checkpoint.

"This is completely unacceptable driver behaviour," he said.

"There were lots of children in the area as school had just finished and these motorists were so focused on their phones that they were completely unaware what was happening around them."

Donnison sad road safety was everyone's responsibility.

"We are human, so mistakes will happen on our roads. It might not be your mistake, but have you taken every possible measure available to protect yourself and those in the car with you if a mistake happens in front of you?

"It takes just a few seconds to put on your seatbelts and put away your mobile phone, those simple acts could save a life," he said.

"You can't change the behaviour of other road users, but you can make sure you take every step possible to keep safe on our roads.

"Everyone needs to think about their driving habits and keep 'road safety' at the forefront of their minds every time they hop in a vehicle.

"Belt up and turn that phone off."

Donnison said the one positive of yesterday was seeing school children all wearing cycle helmets while biking.