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Wearing a seatbelt during pregnancy

Pregnancy does not automatically exempt you from wearing a seatbelt. You are excused from using a seatbelt during pregnancy only if you have an exemption granted by a doctor for medical reasons.

The safest way for pregnant women to wear a safety belt is to:

  • Place the diagonal section of the belt across the torso (chest area) with the strap resting over the shoulder, not the neck.
  • Place the lap section of the belt flat on the thighs, fitting comfortably beneath the baby bump, and over the pelvis (not the bump).
  • Wear the seatbelt as tightly as possible as in this way, the forces applied in a sudden impact can be absorbed by the body’s frame.