There are number of things that doctors recommend pregnant women not to do: drink more than one cup of coffee per day, eat sushi, take a break in the sauna and drink alcohol. But what about driving? A study suggests that pregnant women in their second trimester may be at greater risk for a serious motor vehicle crash.
According to the study, the risk of a crash increases over 40 percent in a woman’s second trimester of pregnancy. A serious car accident can send both mother and child to the emergency room and put them both in grave danger. Even a minor crash can put the couple at risk.
What to do
The study does not suggest that women start taking Ubers or taxis everywhere they go, or have their partners take over sole driving responsibility. Instead, to make a conscious effort to practice safe driving. While the following suggestions may seem obvious, it is wise to take extra caution when driving while pregnant
- Always wear your seatbelt:It is always important to wear your seatbelt while driving. When you are pregnant, wearing a seatbelt can help protect your baby in case of an accident.
- Do not drive distracted:It is easy to glance at your phone while on the road, but this can lead to drifting out of your lane or not being able to stop in time before hitting the car in front of you. Other than staying away from your phone, try to keep your attention on driving while you are in the car. Multitasking takes your mind off the road and can increase risk of a crash.
- Try not to drive drowsy:Drowsy driving increases the risk of crash and some compare the effects of driving while drowsy as similar to the effects of driving while intoxicated. If you are tired, it may be time to let someone else drive.
- Do not eat and drive:While eating and driving is not illegal, it takes your focus off the road and traffic around you. When you can, pull over to eat and then get back on the road.
When you are pregnant, you can still drive whenever and wherever. However, take extra care to stay safe while you are behind the wheel.
