4th March 2005
The lives of more than 55,500 (there were 695,500 births in the UK in 2003, Office of National Statistics) unborn babies may be at risk each year because shocking numbers of pregnant women are misinformed about the importance of belting up in vehicles, according to Brake research commissioned by Direct Line.
The research surveyed 1,010 pregnant women in ante-natal clinics across Britain and found that one in twelve (8%) do not always wear a seatbelt. Nearly half of these women always wore a seat belt before they were pregnant.
Of the pregnant women who don't belt up, one in five (21%) do so because they are worried the seatbelt might harm their baby. However, the baby is most at risk if the mother is injured or killed, and wearing a seat belt helps to prevent this. Disturbingly, half of those who didn't belt up did so because it was uncomfortable.
Even though the majority of pregnant women do belt up, a shocking proportion (23%) did not know for sure it was safer to wear a seat belt or how to wear it properly while pregnant. This is perhaps not surprising given that more than a quarter of pregnant women (26%) said they had not seen or heard any advice on correctly restraining either themselves or their babies.
Direct Line and Brake are calling on the Government to take urgent action and run year-round belt-up campaigns aimed at parents and parents-to-be, to equip mothers with essential knowledge on protecting themselves and their unborn and newly-born children.
The Department for Transport advises that pregnant women should ensure their seat belt is positioned with the lap strap across the hips, under the bump, and the diagonal strap between the breasts and around the bump. They should only wear a two-point lap belt if a three-point seat belt is not available.
A significant number of mums-to-be were also unaware how to restrain their new-born babies. One in six (16%) pregnant women did not know the importance of ensuring a baby seat is properly fitted and one in sixteen (6%) did not know it was dangerous to carry a baby in your arms in a car. If a passenger holds a baby in their arms and puts a seat belt around them and the baby, in a crash the baby would be crushed.
Taking part in the survey had a massive impact on pregnant women's awareness of the importance of belting up. After reading simple advice on wearing seatbelts during pregnancy, four out of five (81%) women who didn't always wear a seatbelt said that they would belt up now, suggesting a national education campaign on the topic would be effective in influencing the behaviour of pregnant women.
Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake said: "Women radically overhaul their lifestyles to ensure they have a healthy pregnancy, yet by failing to belt up many are putting their own lives and those of their unborn babies in jeopardy. All mothers would be horrified at the thought of their unborn or newly-born child being harmed or even crushed to death in a crash, yet many are risking just this because of a lack of understanding about the life-saving importance of properly restraining themselves and their children."
Emma Holyer, Motor Spokesperson of Direct Line said: "A few simple steps taken by pregnant women and new mothers will save lives on our roads. It's essential that expectant mothers follow government advice and wear a seat belt – for all journeys no matter how long. Direct Line research shows that the majority of crashes happen on roads close to home so even for a quick trip to the shops, we'd strongly advise expectant mothers to belt up."
-ends-
Advice - buying a child restraint
· Children are not large enough for an adult belt to fit them properly until they are about five feet (150cm) tall, so should be restrained using a child seat or booster seat until they reach this height.
· Choose the right restraint for your child's height and weight. Children who weigh up to 13kg should use a rearward-facing baby seat to support the head, neck and spine. Children who weigh 9-18kg should be restrained in a child seat, which has its own straps to keep your child in place. Children who weigh 15-25kg should use a booster seat and children who weight 22-36kg should use a booster cushion.
· Make sure the restraint has the United Nations 'E' mark or BS Kitemark.
· Some restraints are tested in the European New Car Assessment Programme so, if possible, choose a restraint that has performed well in these tests.
· Test the restraint before you buy it to check it will fit in your car. Ask the seller to demonstrate how to use it.
· If your car has ISOFIX points, and you are intending to buy an ISOFIX restraint, check it has been approved for your specific car model.
Advice – fitting a child restraint
· Never fit a rear-facing restraint in a seat with an airbag in front of it – in a crash the expanding airbag could kill your child. If fitting a forward-facing seat in the front when there is an airbag present make sure the car seat is as far back as possible to ` maximise the distance between the child and the airbag.
· Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and allow yourself plenty of time to fit the restraint and strap your child in.
· It is safer to fit child restraints in the rear of the car, preferably in the middle of the back seat. If you do use one in the front make sure your child is as far from the dashboard as possible, to reduce the chance of injury in a crash.
· Push all your weight into the restraint as you tighten the belt. The restraint must be tight in the adult seat and should not move.
· Make sure the seat belt passes through all the correct guides on the restraint.
· The seat belt buckle should not rest on the restraint – in a crash it might break or snap open under the pressure.
· When seating your child, make sure the restraint harness is correctly adjusted – only one or two fingers should fit between the child's chest and harness. Keep the fitting instructions in the car so you can refer to them
For media enquiries and interviews:
- with pregnant women and/or Mary Williams OBE, call Andrew Hill on 01484 688086 or 07989 478436, or email news@brake.org.uk.
- for Direct Line, call Emma Holyer on 0845 878 2182.
Notes for editors:
For a copy of the Brake and Direct Line Report: Pregnant women and seatbelts, available from Brake on 01484 559909. The statistics in this report are based on a survey of 1,010 pregnant women attending 15 hospital ante-natal clinics across England, Scotland and Wales.
Brake is a national not-for-profit road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the 3,500 deaths and 33,700 serious injuries that occur on Britain's roads every year and to care for people traumatised by road crashes. Brake produces educational road safety literature and runs events including Road Safety Week.
Brake is funded by donations. Registered charity number 1093244.
Direct Line is the UK's largest private motor insurer with over three million policy holders. For a competitive quote, call Direct Line on 0845 246 8888 or visit www.directline.com.
Direct Line Insurance plc. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Calls may be recorded. Conditions apply.
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