Safety Driving Tips while Pregnant
As a pregnant woman, you need to be extra cautious while driving. The first trimester is the riskiest period for expecting women as they have lower stamina and are more prone to fatigue. This makes them more susceptible to accidents or incidents than ever before. Pregnant women also have different physical restrictions and needs than non-pregnant women.
As such, you need to keep in mind certain safety tips while driving that will help keep you safe and well throughout your pregnancy. Read on for more information about staying safe as a pregnant driver.
Make sure you are well-rested before driving.
While there is no specific amount of hours that pregnant women should drive each day, you need to make sure that you are well-rested before you get behind the wheel.
Fatigue is the leading cause of all car crashes, and you are more likely to have reduced alertness, slower reaction times, and poor decisions while driving while tired. Therefore, try to avoid driving while you are sleepy. If you feel yourself getting sleepy while driving your Mazda CX-30, stop and rest until you feel fresh enough to continue driving.
If you are employed, check your company’s policy on pregnant employees and driving. Some employers may have restrictions on the number of hours pregnant women can drive, particularly later in the pregnancy when you may have to start driving larger vehicles.
Don’t overpack your schedule and limit your driving time.
It might be tempting to try to squeeze in as many activities as possible during your pregnancy. However, this is not a good idea while you are pregnant. Pregnant women need more breaks than non-pregnant women. You also need to be more careful with your activities.
For example, if you are pregnant with twins, use a smaller stroller, or avoid walking if it is too challenging for your body. Driving is a strenuous activity, and pregnant women need to take frequent breaks, particularly in the first trimester.
This is when you will feel the most fatigued and need to take frequent breaks while driving. Try to avoid driving long distances, and keep your driving time to a minimum.
Install a seat belt, regardless of your stage of pregnancy.
While it is important to keep in mind certain safety tips while driving that will help keep you safe and well during pregnancy, you also need to remember to wear your seat belt at all times.
This includes when you are pregnant, even if you are in the early stages when you may not feel like you need it. People often think that they don’t need to wear their seat belts because they are pregnant and their enlarged belly gets in the way.
This is a very dangerous misconception to have. Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of fatal injury for pregnant women in a car crash by up to 71%. Keep the seat belt on even when you are pregnant — your baby and you will be protected in the unlikely event of a car crash.
Be more aware of other road users and their behavior.
As a pregnant woman, you need to be extra careful while driving. This is because as a pregnant woman you are more susceptible to being targeted by other road users. You may be targeted due to your vulnerability and the fact that you are likely to be more cautious and follow the rules of the road.
This makes you less of a threat to reckless drivers, and they may try to take advantage of that. Keep an eye out for aggressive or reckless driving behavior from other motorists. If necessary, pull off the road and wait for the driver to pass by.
Watch out for these 6 danger areas when you’re pregnant.
While there are certain safety tips while driving that will help keep you safe and well during pregnancy, you also need to be aware of these danger areas when you are pregnant. The first trimester is the riskiest period for expecting women.
While you are pregnant, make sure you pay extra attention to these danger areas to keep yourself safe. Be careful when driving in these areas, and try to avoid driving in heavy traffic whenever possible.
Bottom line
Driving while pregnant is a bit different from driving while not pregnant. You need to keep in mind certain safety tips while driving that will help keep you safe and well during your pregnancy. Make sure you are well-rested before driving, don’t over-pack your schedule, and limit your driving time.
Keep an eye out for aggressive or reckless driving behavior from other motorists. When you are pregnant, make sure you wear your seat belt, even if you are in the early stages of your pregnancy. These safety tips will help keep you safe and well during pregnancy.
