Rolls-Royce pulls video with rapper Skepta over no seatbelt backlash
Written by News on 11/12/2017
"It ain’t safe" was the message from the president of the AA who quoted a Skepta lyric in response to a video by Rolls-Royce showing the grime artist appearing not to wear a seatbelt.
The luxury car maker soon pulled the video featuring the rapper travelling in the back of a £360,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom and creating a song with a friend, following backlash from road safety campaigners.
In the video, which has been removed from YouTube, the pair are seen being chauffeured in the Swiss Alps but appear not to be buckled up.
Skepta, who has more than a million Twitter followers, soon responded to the furore as he tweeted a photo of a fastened seatbelt captioned with a lightbulb emoji.
Jason Wakeford, director of campaigns for road safety charity Brake, said: "It appears as if seatbelts may not have been worn in this promotional video and, if that was indeed the case, we’d expect Rolls-Royce to be setting a much better example.
"Putting on a seatbelt only takes a few seconds, yet remains one of the most important things people can do to protect themselves in a vehicle.
"Failing to belt up is not only illegal, but it could also cost you and those around you their life."
In Switzerland, it is compulsory for all passengers to wear a seatbelt if they are fitted. According to the RAC, fines of up to 200 Swiss francs (£150) can be issued for the offence.
AA president Edmund King said: "Perhaps Skepta, the great grime artist, should listen to his own song – It Ain’t Safe – before rapping in the back of a Rolls-Royce, apparently not wearing a seatbelt.
"Remember ‘it ain’t safe’ ever to travel in any car, no matter how safe, without belting up."
The National Police Chiefs’ Council was unable to comment, but quoted UK law which states seatbelts must be worn in cars, vans and other goods vehicles if one is fitted.
It added: "Adults, and children aged 14 years and over, must use a seatbelt or child restraint, where fitted, when seated in minibuses, buses and coaches.
"Exemptions are allowed for the holders of medical exemption certificates and those making deliveries or collections in goods vehicles when travelling less than 50 metres."
Drivers and passengers in the UK face on-the-spot fines of £100 or a maximum fine of £500 if prosecuted.
Sky News has contacted Rolls-Royce for a comment.
(c) Sky News 2017: Rolls-Royce pulls video with rapper Skepta over no seatbelt backlash
