Travelling Safely During Pregnancy

While focus often shifts to the car seat once the baby arrives, staying safe on the road during pregnancy is the first step in protecting your precious cargo.

In the UK, the law requires you to wear a seatbelt while pregnant unless you have a specific medical exemption certificate.

To ensure maximum safety for both you and your bump, we advise follow these evidence-based guidelines:

Perfecting Seatbelt Placement

The way you wear your seatbelt changes as your bump grows. The goal is to ensure that in the event of a sudden stop or impact, the belt exerts pressure on your skeletal frame rather than your abdomen.

• The Lap Belt: Never wear the lap belt across or over your bump. Following advice from the NCT (National Childbirth Trust), it should be placed as low as possible, tucked firmly under the curve of your pregnancy and across your pelvic bones.

• The Diagonal Strap: This should pass over your shoulder, stay clear of your neck, and run across the chest between your breasts. It should be routed to the side of your bump, never behind your back or under your arm.

• Keep it Taut: Ensure there is no slack. Avoid wearing thick, bulky coats which can create a gap between the belt and your body, a recommendation supported by RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) to ensure the belt remains effective.

Optimising Your Seating Position

How you sit is just as important as how you buckle up.

• Distance from the Airbag: According to RoSPA and the NHS, you should move your seat as far back as is comfortable for driving. Aim to keep a distance of at least 25cm (10 inches) between your breastbone and the steering wheel.

• Steering Wheel Angle: If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it slightly towards your breastbone rather than your abdomen. This ensures that if an airbag deploys, it protects your chest rather than striking your bump.

• As a Passenger: If you aren't driving, Brake (The Road Safety Charity) recommends moving the front passenger seat as far back as possible to give the airbag plenty of room to deploy safely.

• A Note on Airbags: The Department for Transport (THINK!) emphasises that you should never deactivate airbags for pregnant passengers; they are designed to work in tandem with your seatbelt to provide a "safety envelope."

Pregnancy Seatbelt Adjusters

A Word of Caution. You may see "pregnancy seatbelt adjusters" or "cushions" marketed to make driving more comfortable.

• Crash Testing: Many of these aftermarket products are not regulated or crash-tested to the same standards as the vehicle’s original safety systems.

• Interference: If an adjuster changes the way the seatbelt is designed to work, or adds "slack" to the system, it could lead to injury.

• Best Practice: If you choose to use one, ensure it is a reputable brand that has been rigorously crash-tested (such as the BeSafe Pregnancy belt) to ensure the lap belt stays securely anchored under the pelvis without compromising the belt's integrity.

Take Regular Breaks

Circulation is key during pregnancy. On longer UK journeys, Brake recommends stopping every 90 minutes to stretch your legs and stay hydrated. This helps prevent fatigue and reduces the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis).