UK Police 'look into' PM Sunak not using seatbelt while filming video

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British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, found himself in a "hot pot" after he filmed a video for social media on January 19th while seated in the back of a moving car headed to Lancashire to promote his allocation of leveling up funding. 

Sunak has been accused by UK opposition parties of breaking a fundamental law, while police are "investigating" the prime minister's failure to fasten his seatbelt inside a moving car.

He was filming a social media video on January 19 in the back of the vehicle during a visit to Lancashire to defend the government’s latest allocation of leveling up money across the country. In the footage, police motorbikes are visible as they escort the car of the PM, who appeared to have removed his seatbelt.

🚨 | NEW: PM Rishi Sunak was NOT wearing a seatbelt in a video recorded in his Government car this morning pic.twitter.com/SOLn5YGnT7

— Politics UK 🇬🇧 (@POLITlCSUK) January 19, 2023

Seatbelts must be worn in cars, vans, and other goods vehicles if they are equipped with them, according to Highway Code Rule 99. The current maximum fine for not wearing a seatbelt is £500 ($618.7), with exemptions granted when the vehicle was being used for police, fire, rescue, or certified medical issues.

Furthermore, the British government has been considering changes to driving laws that could result in both drivers and passengers receiving penalty points on their licenses if they do not use a seatbelt. MPs in the House of Commons argued for such changes in November 2022 after data revealed that seatbelts were not worn in 30 percent of all car fatalities recorded in 2021.

When asked to comment on the incident involving Rishi Sunak, Lancashire Police were cited as saying: "We are aware of the matter and we will be looking into it."

Following the backlash over the video, Downing Street admitted that the prime minister had made a "brief error of judgment" in removing the safety device. According to the No. 10 spokesman, Rishi Sunak "fully accepts this was a mistake and apologizes."

“The Prime Minister believes everyone should wear a seatbelt,” the spokesperson added.