Police in Miaoli are warning parents after a small child standing on a scooter's front footboard accidentally hit the throttle and sent the bike lurching forward, crashing it — a dangerous but avoidable habit.

• The crash happened on Zhonghua Road in Miaoli City and was caught on video that spread online.
• Police found the clip during routine internet patrols; nobody reported the accident to them.
• The rider had let the child stand on the front footboard while stopped at the roadside when the throttle was bumped.
• A child in that spot blocks the rider's view and gets crushed between the rider and the front of the bike in a crash.

Outlook: Police are pushing riders to carry only one passenger, seated behind them, and to always shut off the engine and take the key when stopping.