Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 21: Rishi Sunak, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, was fined for not using a seatbelt while driving and making a social media video.
According to Lancashire Police, Sunak, a 42-year-old man from London, was given a conditional offer of a fixed penalty notice that includes a 100-pound fine for failing to fasten his seatbelt in a moving vehicle.
“Following the circulation of a video on social media showing an individual failing to wear a seat belt while a passenger in a moving car in Lancashire we have today (Friday, January 20) issued a 42-year-old man from London with a conditional offer of fixed penalty,” Lancashire Police said in a statement.
“That was a brief error of judgement. The PM removed his seatbelt to film a small clip. He fully accepts this was a mistake and apologises about it,” Sunak’s spokesperson said.
If a passenger is discovered in the UK not wearing a seatbelt while driving, they may be fined 100 pounds immediately, rising to 500 pounds if the case goes to court, unless they have a valid medical exemption.
In England, passengers aged 14 and over are responsible for ensuring they wear a seat belt in cars, vans and other goods vehicles if one is fitted and drivers are responsible for passengers under 14. Exemptions include being in a vehicle utilised for police, fire, or other rescue services or having a doctor’s certificate for a medical cause.
For the purpose of promoting his government’s recent Levelling Up Fund announcements to fund more than 100 projects across the nation, Sunak shot the video while seated in the rear seat of a moving car. His car was being escorted by police on motorcycles as he spoke to the camera.
Recently, the government explored making seatbelt laws more stringent such that drivers who choose not to use them would also be subject to licence penalties.
According to the most recent Department for Transport statistics, 30% of those killed in automobile accidents in the UK in 2021 were not wearing seatbelts.
