The list of things to avoid when you are pregnant can seem endless: sushi, deli meat, some soft cheeses, caffeine, ibuprofen, hot tubs, roller coasters, flying, etc.
Now, you may want to add another thing to the list: driving.
A recent Canadian study found that expectant mothers are more likely to get in a car accident. According to the study, the risk is greatest in the woman’s second trimester and decreases in the third trimester. During the first trimester, the risk is the same among pregnant and non-pregnant women.
The study analyzed the medical records, spanning five years, of over 500,000 mothers in Ontario.
Why are pregnant women more likely to get in a wreck?
The study hypothesizes that the increased risk of a car accident may come from the hormonal changes of pregnancy and the fatigue, nausea, stress, and insomnia that can occur. These stressors could lead to driver error.
The study’s authors don’t recommend that women avoid driving altogether when pregnant: that would be inconvenient or impossible for most people, who need to drive to get to work, to the grocery store, and everywhere else.
Instead, they simply advise pregnant women to drive more carefully. Reduce your speed, obey all road signs, and minimize distractions. While this advice is nothing new, it’s still important: too many accidents are caused each year because the driver wasn’t paying attention to his or her surroundings.
Keep yourself and your baby safe as your due date nears by following the study’s advice and minimizing the amount you drive, when possible.
If you are ever in a car accident caused by someone else, please call the experienced Huntsville, AL car accident lawyers at Martinson & Beason, P.C. We’ll let you know your rights and help you determine the best option moving forward.