Login
My Garage
New hero

Sunak gets fined for not wearing a seatbelt, but what does the law say?

By Tom Gibson | January 24, 2023

Share

Why not leave a comment?

See all | Add a comment

There are numerous reasons why you don’t need to wear a seatbelt. How many of these did you know?

Sunak gets fined for not wearing a seatbelt, but what does the law say?

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was issued a fine by Lancashire Police after being filmed not wearing a seatbelt in a moving vehicle.

No 10 said Mr Sunak "fully accepts this was a mistake and has apologised", adding that he would pay the fine.

Passengers caught failing to wear a seat belt when one is available can be fined £100 and this can increase to £500 if the case goes to court.

Quite how none of his advisers or PR team failed to spot that he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt is beyond us, but what does the law say and are you ever exempt from wearing one.

Well, yes you are. The law says…

When you don't need to wear a seat belt

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

Pregnancy and disability exemptions

If you fall into one of the above categories you are not exempt from wearing a seatbelt unless you have a specific exemption from a doctor on medical grounds. You can also get an exemption for a medical condition. For any of the above, you can get a ‘Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing’ from your doctor and you have to keep this in your vehicle to show to the police if you’re stopped. You’ll also need to tell your car insurer.

Related Articles

Volvo builds its last diesel car
The announcement, originally made at Climate Week NYC in September, has now materialised into reality
Mar 28, 2024
UK government aims to launch flying taxis within a two-year timeframe
Flying taxis could be a regular sight in the UK skies as soon as 2028 if government plans go smoothly.
Mar 28, 2024
Check my cars tax band
The tax increase, of about six percent, will particularly affect owners of polluting combustion engine models.
Mar 26, 2024
Travel times and routes to avoid this Easter weekend
With over 14 million leisure trips expected across the UK during this Easter bank holiday weekend, experts predict a "carmageddon" scenario.
Mar 26, 2024