What you need to know when driving while pregnant
If you are pregnant, you may feel hesitant to drive. You can mitigate many safety concerns by paying attention to the following advice1.
Always wear a seatbelt
Every car driver and passenger in South Africa must wear a safety belt by law1. A pregnant woman must position the lap part of the belt as low as possible to hold the pelvis firmly in position1. This prevents placing any pressure on the foetus1. The diagonal section of the belt must cross over the abdomen and go between the breasts and over the collar bone1.
Also make sure that you are placing the seatbelt correctly. Having an incorrectly fastened seatbelt can seriously injure the foetus should there be an accident1. Without a safety belt, the forces at play in an accident can cause placental disruption, among other things1.
Adjust the seat and safety belt with time
As your pregnancy progresses from your first trimester to the fourth month and beyond, you must constantly adjust your seat1. Make sure you sit in a comfortable position and as upright as possible1.
Leave space between you and the steering wheel
Ensure that there is at least a 25-cm distance between your belly and the steering wheel by sliding your seat backwards1. The lower part of the wheel will then not touch your abdomen, thus preventing a future injury1. But some women are taller and others shorter, so it is difficult for drivers to achieve this consistently1. If your belly is entirely on top of the wheel, it’s best to let someone else drive1.
Wearing a pelvic band
Some women in their late pregnancies prefer to wear a pelvic band below their belly purely for comfort1.
Activate airbags
Always drive with airbags activated, even when you are a passenger sitting in front1.
Stop frequently
Avoid going on a long trip, seeing you will need to make lots of visits to the bathroom and eat quite often1. But, if you do have to go, remember to plan your route to cater for frequent breaks, which also helps your blood circulation1.
Wear appropriate clothing and shoes
Irrespective of whether you are driving or not, you need to wear loose clothing and flat shoes1. In addition, drive defensively to avoid making sudden jerky movements1.
When to stop driving
This depends on you and how you feel. If you start to feel uneasy and uncomfortable behind the wheel, it’s time to let someone else drive1. This usually occurs in the last month of pregnancy.
Disclaimer
This article cannot provide advice but only information due to the complexity of car insurance. That is why you need to obtain professional advice from a certified financial advisor when considering buying a car insurance product.
As a pregnant driver, you still need peace of mind to know your car is adequately insured. Contact PMD to find out more about their affordable car insurance, which you could also buy online.
Source:
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.
