The key to a safe drive during pregnancy is taking adequate precautions. Find out the tips for safe driving during pregnancy right here. It is important to consider and follow all safety precautions while driving a car and this becomes even more important when you are pregnant. You may not receive a detailed medical advice on the measures to be followed while driving when you are pregnant, but when you come across statistical figures like close to 2 lakh car crashes involve pregnant women in the driver’s seat; you would naturally feel concerned whether you are careful enough. During pregnancy, the body changes its proportions pretty often and this requires that you are comfortably seated. Out of other things, the safety belt and the air bags become two most crucial features. In this articleAlignmentSafety BeltBe Fully Awake While DrivingAlways Use and Follow Your SensesAlways Follow the Driving ConditionsDriving Safety Tips for Pregnant Women Vital points to note while driving during pregnancy: Alignment You need to ensure that your driving seat is duly adjusted to the steering wheel. This will ensure that you have complete control of your car. You must have comfortable reach of the steering wheel and your pedals. But this is also to be noted that you have enough leg room and not feel cramped while driving. There must be adequate space between the steering wheel and your upper part of the body.Safety Belt It is mandatory to wear the safety belt when you are pregnant and driving even if for a very short distance, slow pace, or on a road devoid of rushing traffic. And, not just wearing it, but you must wear it correctly. Here are the pointers on this:The safety belt must be close to your body as much as possible. So remove all bulky clothing when you are driving.The lap should be pulled over your thighs, so that it lies flat under your stomach.The torso belt should be positioned between your breasts and they need to be pulled tightly. Other Tips for Safe Driving While Pregnant Have a look at some more tips for driving safely during pregnancy. Be Fully Awake While Driving If you are feeling exhausted, it is best not to drive. It is natural to feel monotony while driving alone on a motorway. It is advisable to pull over for a while, freshen up and grab something to eat and drink, if hungry so that you are alert. Always Use and Follow Your Senses This means that you need to keep surveying the road while you are driving. This will keep you prepared on what is coming up and what to expect. Do not forget to keep an eye on the rear mirror also, so that you know what is in your behind. Plan the changes in your lanes when there are few cars ahead of you; this will give your enough time to merge. Always Follow the Driving Conditions Adjust your speed according to the real driving conditions, if it is raining or the road is unsafe, you need to keep at least 18 meters of braking distance, say if your speed is 100 km/hr. It is important that you are considerate with yourself while you are driving when pregnant. You can be a very good driver, but during pregnancy, there are certain changes taking place in your body. Realise them, and understand that you might be requiring more reaction time than otherwise. Give yourself that time, and ensure that there is enough room between your car and the one going ahead of you. It also goes without saying that the use of phones while driving is an absolute no-no, even if you feel that you can manage. Distraction in any form is to be strictly avoided.
The key to a safe drive during pregnancy is taking adequate precautions. Find out the tips for safe driving during pregnancy right here. It is important to consider and follow all safety precautions while driving a car and this becomes even more important when you are pregnant. You may not receive a detailed medical advice on the measures to be followed while driving when you are pregnant, but when you come across statistical figures like close to 2 lakh car crashes involve pregnant women in the driver’s seat; you would naturally feel concerned whether you are careful enough. During pregnancy, the body changes its proportions pretty often and this requires that you are comfortably seated. Out of other things, the safety belt and the air bags become two most crucial features.
Driving Safety Tips for Pregnant Women
Vital points to note while driving during pregnancy:
Alignment
You need to ensure that your driving seat is duly adjusted to the steering wheel. This will ensure that you have complete control of your car. You must have comfortable reach of the steering wheel and your pedals. But this is also to be noted that you have enough leg room and not feel cramped while driving. There must be adequate space between the steering wheel and your upper part of the body.
Safety Belt
It is mandatory to wear the safety belt when you are pregnant and driving even if for a very short distance, slow pace, or on a road devoid of rushing traffic. And, not just wearing it, but you must wear it correctly. Here are the pointers on this:
- The safety belt must be close to your body as much as possible. So remove all bulky clothing when you are driving.
- The lap should be pulled over your thighs, so that it lies flat under your stomach.
- The torso belt should be positioned between your breasts and they need to be pulled tightly.
Other Tips for Safe Driving While Pregnant
Have a look at some more tips for driving safely during pregnancy.
Be Fully Awake While Driving
If you are feeling exhausted, it is best not to drive. It is natural to feel monotony while driving alone on a motorway. It is advisable to pull over for a while, freshen up and grab something to eat and drink, if hungry so that you are alert.
Always Use and Follow Your Senses
This means that you need to keep surveying the road while you are driving. This will keep you prepared on what is coming up and what to expect. Do not forget to keep an eye on the rear mirror also, so that you know what is in your behind. Plan the changes in your lanes when there are few cars ahead of you; this will give your enough time to merge.
Always Follow the Driving Conditions
Adjust your speed according to the real driving conditions, if it is raining or the road is unsafe, you need to keep at least 18 meters of braking distance, say if your speed is 100 km/hr.
It is important that you are considerate with yourself while you are driving when pregnant. You can be a very good driver, but during pregnancy, there are certain changes taking place in your body. Realise them, and understand that you might be requiring more reaction time than otherwise. Give yourself that time, and ensure that there is enough room between your car and the one going ahead of you. It also goes without saying that the use of phones while driving is an absolute no-no, even if you feel that you can manage. Distraction in any form is to be strictly avoided.
