Eight Year Old Boy Takes Car On 87-mph Joy Ride On Autobahn

An eight-year German boy took his mother’s car on a joy ride on the Autobahn in West Germany, managing to reach 87mph.

He was found parked at a service station of the A44 road near the city of Soest, early on Wednesday morning just five kilometers from his home.

It was the boy’s mother who alerted the police and told them her son had taken her Volkswagen Golf automatic. Accompanied by his mother, the police found him shortly after at a station along the Autobahn.

He had parked the vehicle and turned on the hazard lights. When questioned by the police concerning the matter, he tearfully told them he only wanted to drive for a while. Luckily the little adventure down the A44 had not caused any damage to people or property.

The boy's mother claimed her son regularly drove go-carts and bumper cars. In the past, he had also practiced driving cars, but on private property, meaning it was not something out of the ordinary.

The boy has not been publicly identified though the police did speak to him concerning the dangers of driving without a license.

The legal age for driving in Germany is 18.

They also recounted the incident on Facebook with a picture illustrating an emoji over the boy’s face.
The statement from the spokesperson for the Soest North-Rhine Westphalia police told media outlets the boy stopped driving because he felt a bit ill after going at that speed on the highway.

The police must have concluded he learned his lesson considering his apparent discomfort after being found. There is also the fact there was no damage caused by during the excursion. They opted not to press any criminal charges for driving under the legal age.

Despite his experience with bumper cars and go-karts, the eight-year-old may have been a little out of his element not only because of the highway experience but because it was the Autobahn.

Known as one of the most famous highways in the world, the Autobahn is reputed to have no speed limit on some sections. It may have been part of the reason the child wanted to try it out. It is the ultimate fast lane.

The recommended speed is 80 miles per hour, though, sensors have recorded speeds of over 220 miles per hour from performance cars trying out the experience on a public highway.