Strictly Come Dancing’s Angela Scanlon reported to police over Instagram car stunt

Angela Scanlon posted the footage of her leaning out of the car on a residential street
Angela Scanlon posted footage of her leaning out of the moving car on a residential street

Strictly Come Dancing star Angela Scanlon has been reported to police for hanging out of a moving vehicle as part of a stunt for social media.

Road safety campaigners criticised The One Show presenter after she posted footage of her leaning out of a window of a moving car near the BBC Elstree studios, Hertfordshire, on Monday night.

Scanlon, 39, shared a video of the stunt on Instagram but took it down it in the wake of the criticism.

She told The Sun newspaper: “I made absolutely the wrong decision when I filmed this video. I was coming from rehearsals and was giddy with excitement.

“That’s not an excuse because what I did was stupid and I’m sorry I let my excitement get the better of my judgment.”

Ms Scanlon was shown performing dance moves through the back window as the car drove along a residential street to the hip hop track Rapper’s Delight by the Sugarhill Gang.

She also waved to a cyclist and did not appear to be wearing her seatbelt during the ride.

Nicholas Lyes, director of policy at road safety charity I Am RoadSmart, said: “Dangling any part of the body out of the window of a moving car is incredibly dangerous and risks serious injury or death.

“To make matters worse, in this instance it appears no seatbelt was being worn which risks the passenger being thrown out of the vehicle when the brakes are applied.”

A spokesman for road safety charity Brake said: “Wearing a seatbelt is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce our risk of death or injury in a road crash.

“It is also a legal requirement in the UK.

“It is important for any person in a position of influence to act responsibly when driving on our roads, so that those who look up to them can follow their example.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire Police said: “Hertfordshire Police have received a report from a member of the public about a woman not wearing a seatbelt in a moving vehicle in Borehamwood.”

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