A man has been charged with reckless driving after shocking video emerged showing a three-year-old child driving a car through a Perth suburb.

The disturbing footage shows the young child unrestrained and sitting on the lap of a man who appears to be recording the dangerous stunt on his phone.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Three-year-old filmed driving car in Perth suburb

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

In the video, the toddler can be seen steering the vehicle while the man provides directions.

“Look, look, there’s my hands, it’s all [expletive]. Look where you’re going. Don’t crash,” the man can be heard saying in the footage.

The reckless journey, which was posted to social media, shows the car mounting a curb as the man continues to encourage the child.

“Go straight, straight. Up the curb, up the curb,” he says.

Former WA Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan slammed the dangerous behaviour.

“I was a traffic cop for about six years and I’ve seen a lot of crazy things,” he said. “This has to rank up there with one of the most crazy and dangerous things I have seen.”

“I’m staggered about how stupid this guy actually is.”

Police have described the vision as deeply concerning, saying a vehicle is not a toy. The video and the driver are now under investigation.

WA Minister Matthew Swinbourn warned of the potentially deadly consequences.

“If there was an accident, this child would be facing death or permanent injury,” he said.

“We have had so many serious deaths on our roads and the government’s messaging around this is everybody’s responsibility to be safe and this is just ridiculous.”

The incident comes as separate footage emerged from Balcatta showing a green P-plater driving a ute with a passenger sitting on a mattress in the back tray.