Few errant motorists are as lucky as Philip
PRINCE Philip can consider himself fortunate to escape with a warning after being photographed driving without a seatbelt just two days after his car crash last month.
Nine out of 10 motorists caught driving without a seatbelt in Norfolk in the past three years were fined, prosecuted or had to attend driver awareness courses.
Of the 1,960 caught driving unbelted from 2016 to 2018 more than 70 per cent, or 1,403, were sent on a course.
Another 10 per cent, or 197, got fixed penalty notices, while nearly eight per cent, or 150, were taken to court.
The figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information request by the Sunday Express. The Queen’s 97-year-old husband was let off with a warning for driving without a seatbelt two days after his crash near the Sandringham Estate.
The collision, on January 17, which left Emma Fairweather with a broken wrist, happened when a Land Rover being driven by the Prince was turning on to a main road.
Ms Fairweather, being driven by her friend Ellie Townsend, 28 in a Kia, said she was lucky to be alive. The 46-year-old mother-of-two was in the car with Ellie’s ninemonth-old son. Her friend suffered knee injuries.
The Prince, 97, later wrote to Ms Fairweather saying he was “deeply sorry” that she had been injured.
He said the sun was low in the sky when he pulled out.
Norfolk Constabulary said of the advice given to the Royal: “This is in line with our standard response when being made aware of such images showing this type of offence.”
RAC’s Pete Williams said: “Buckling up takes seconds and saves lives, and it is difficult to comprehend why a driver or passenger of any age would choose not to do this.”