26 Jan How to Wear a Seat Belt During Pregnancy

Pregnancy and Seat belts – Wondering How to Wear a Seat Belt During Pregnancy?

Wearing a seat belt while pregnant

You must wear a seat belt if you are pregnant unless your doctor certifies that you are exempt due to medical reasons. If exempt, you will need to produce your certificate if the police ask you for it. Keep in mind that it is often a greater risk to travel without a seat belt than to wear it in such circumstances and wearing your seat belt safely will help protect you and your unborn child.

To ensure your seat belt is adjusted and fitted to you and your belly properly, you’ll need to:

• be sure the shoulder strap’s between your breasts
• make certain lap strap as low as possible across your hips and under your bump – if it goes over your belly button, it’s too high

If you’re driving and need to make room for your bump, don’t put your seat where you’re not able to reach the clutch, brake and accelerator. This could affect your reaction times when driving. If you move the seat, check your mirrors are still in the correct place.

Many wonder about pregnancy being an exemption from seat belt use.

Many wonder if it’s really a good idea to not wear a seat belt when pregnant, but it’s actually not a good idea to not wear one. If you’re worried about the seat belt interfering with your pregnant belly, invest in a Tummy Shield for added security. The Tummy Shield is designed to keep you and baby safe and comfortable in the car by redirecting the seat belt to fit you properly.

Exemptions from wearing a seat belt usually only include the following:

• a driver who is reversing, or supervising a learner driver who is reversing
• driving a delivery vehicle on deliveries, that is traveling no more than 50 meters between stops
• a licensed taxi driver who is ‘plying for hire’

You may be exempted from wearing a seat belt on medical grounds. If this is the case, your doctor may issue a ‘Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing’ if he or she decides that it is not suitable for you to wear a seat belt on medical grounds. This needs to be presented if the police ask you for it.