Driving and Pregnancy

Pregnant women, just like all other drivers or passengers, must wear a seat belt unless their doctor provides a certificate which states that they are medically exempt.

Whilst wearing a seat belt during pregnancy may not be comfortable, it will improve safety for both mother and baby. The seat belt should be worn in the following manner: The lap strap should go under the bump and across the hips, and the diagonal strap should be placed between the breasts and around the bump.

A 3-point lap and diagonal seat belt is preferable to a lap-only belt, but wearing a lap-only belt is better than nothing at all. When travelling in cars fitted with air bags, the front seat (whether it be the driving seat or the passenger seat) should be pushed back as far as practical.