I heard about a rather disturbing motoring in incident in town the other day.

A car was parked on a steep hill in a shopping street, and there were 4 children in it.

A motorist drew up behind the parked car, which was blocking his way. The man got out of the car and told the oldest of the 4 children, who was about 12 years old, to let the handbrake off the car so it would roll forward out of his way - still with 4 children in it. The child did so.

Surely this was a very dangerous thing to do. Did the motorist commit any offence? Presumably the child did, since technically they were controllling a vehicle they were not licenced to drive, and too young to drive. What about the parent who left the car parked blocking the road with 4 children in it?