Car accident news
13/04/2010
New seat belt design for pregnant womenA new seatbelt has been invented for pregnant women to prevent injury to the foetus in a car accident. The invention was inspired by a woman prosecuted for failing to wear a seatbelt because she was concerned about the harm it could inflict on her foetus in the event of a car crash. A standard seatbelt can harm the foetus if the mother is involved in a road accident as the strap puts a large amount of pressure around the stomach area and, in extreme cases, can lead to miscarriage. Both the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the police both recommend putting the lap strap underneath the bump and the diagonal strap of the belt between the breasts to prevent harm to the baby. However a survey of 400 pregnant women by Loughborough University in 2004 found 87% did not wear seatbelts correctly. Even an accident at 15 mph can cause a pregnant woman to miscarry so the invention of a seatbelt specifically for pregnant women is a much-needed addition to the market. The new seatbelt is a shoulder harness design which takes pressure away from the abdomen whilst still offering adequate restraint to both mother and baby in the event of a car accident. It is hoped that the new style of seatbelt will come onto the market later this year.
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