Rishi Sunak has been forced to apologise after he was filmed without wearing a seatbelt while in a moving car.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister, who posted the clip on social media, said it "was a brief error of judgement", which saw him take off the mandatory belt in a clip for Instagram.
Lancashire Police are now "looking into" the situation as failure to buckle up carries a £500 fine.
Wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement for all drivers and passengers. But what are the laws for wearing them in the UK?
Wearing a seatbelt is something that is engrained into us from a young age - and there are only a few circumstances where you are permitted to not wear one.
According to gov.uk, you don’t need to wear a seat belt if you’re:
- a driver who is reversing, or supervising a learner driver who is reversing
- in a vehicle being used for police, fire and rescue services
- a passenger in a trade vehicle and you’re investigating a fault
- driving a goods vehicle on deliveries that is travelling no more than 50 metres between stops
- a licensed taxi driver who is ‘plying for hire’ or carrying passengers
You may also not have to wear a seat belt if you are medically exempt. However, your doctor will have to give you a "Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing".
If you qualify you must must:
- keep the certificate in your vehicle
- show it to the police if you’re stopped
You must make sure that any children in the vehicle you’re driving are:
- in the correct car seat for their height or weight until they reach 135 centimetres tall or their 12th birthday, whichever is first
- wearing a seat belt if they’re 12 or 13 years old, or younger and over 135cm tall
You can be fined up to £500 if a child under 14 isn’t in the correct car seat or wearing a seat belt while you’re driving.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
