Police have confirmed they are 'looking into' a video of Rishi Sunak failing to wear a seatbelt in the back of a moving car. The PM apologised failing to wear a seatbelt as he filmed a social media clip on Thursday. The offence can be punished with fines of up to £500.
Lancashire Police have since confirmed they are 'looking into' the incident. Downing Street said the Prime Minister had made a 'brief error of judgment' by removing the safety device as he promoted his levelling-up funding in the Instagram video when he visited Lancashire on Thursday (January 19).
A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Sunak 'fully accepts this was a mistake and apologises' for the incident as police confirmed they were investigating.
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On Thursday, a spokesperson for Lancashire Police told the PA news agency: “We are aware of the matter and we will be looking into it.”
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister believes everyone should wear a seatbelt. It was an error of judgment, he removed it for a short period of time to film a clip, which you’ve seen, but he accepts that was a mistake.”
The spokesperson added that Mr Sunak 'fully accepts this was a mistake and apologises'.
Mr Sunak was asked about failing to wear his seatbelt as he walked off from a broadcast interview in Hartlepool, but he declined to answer. There are a few exemptions for failing to wear a belt, including when a car is being used for police, fire and rescue services and for certified medical issues.
But Downing Street did not believe there was an exception for travelling in a ministerial car. In the video, police motorbikes can be seen escorting the car as Mr Sunak addresses the camera.
The Government has considered toughening seatbelt rules to ensure drivers not wearing them could receive penalty points. Recent Department for Transport figures suggested around 30 per cent of people killed in cars on Britain’s roads in 2021 were unrestrained.
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