Traffic police were shocked when they stopped a speeding car and found an 8-year-old driving, in Shache county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on July 29, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The car was seen snaking at high speed along a local highway at about 4 am when on-duty traffic police were patrolling.

The father, surnamed Nu, who was sitting next to his son, told police he let the boy drive when he found the highway was not busy in the early morning.

Nu said he did not think it was dangerous.

Nu and his son were later brought back to the traffic police department for further questioning and further punishment.