The British royal family follows a number of unusual security protocols, including bringing a black outfit when traveling, prohibiting two heirs from flying on the same flight, and ditching seat belts–even when they’re the one behind the wheel. While the latter might sound like a safety risk, a security expert revealed the reason that senior royals like Kate Middleton, Prince William, and King Charles don’t wear seat belts when they’re out driving–and why law enforcement turns a blind eye.

It’s no secret that many generations of the royal family have a seatbelt-optional mindset, with the late Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne, as well as King Charles and Queen Camilla frequently seen driving around without one throughout the years. While younger royals like Kate, William, and Princess Beatrice have been spotted buckled up during everyday rides, they also tend to go no-seatbelt when riding in the backseat to official royal engagements like the Trooping the Colour last year.

British security expert Michael Chandler, who has a slew of celebrity clients, told The DailyMail that avoiding seatbelts might actually be due to “security considerations” for the royal family.

“As you might imagine, there’s concerns about extracting a principal from a vehicle as quickly as possible,” he told the publication, calling it a “risk-based approach.” He revealed that on longer or more high-risk trips, the royals will buckle up and that their team probably decides on this beforehand. 

“There’ll be a risk assessment, the outcome of which will determine whether or not there needs to be extra precautions,” he said, adding, “They do actually wear seatbelts, probably much more than people realise. On those occasions where they’re travelling relatively quickly through London or on motorways – they will certainly wear seatbelts.”

In addition to calling out a British law that allows passengers in vehicles under diplomatic protection to avoid wearing seatbelts, Chandler also noted that convenience might play a factor in the royals’ decision to wear a seatbelt. “If they’re in and out of a vehicle, royals will be less inclined to fit their seatbelt every time they get out of the car,” he said. 

Chandler also had some insight into why the royals aren’t seen getting pulled over and ticketed when they drive sans seatbelt on personal trips. He noted that only King Charles has special “legal immunity” as sovereign, but it’s unlikely that police would target the rest of the Windsors to avoid challenging their security team.

“They’re unlikely to be arrested when it was a decision made by someone who’s looking after them … In short, the police who provide the protection aren’t likely to be challenged by their policing colleagues,” he said.