Setareh Law
June 19, 2025
Pregnant women can generally drive safely throughout most of their pregnancy with proper precautions. There’s no universal cutoff date when you must hand over the keys. At Setareh Law, we understand that driving independence remains important for most expectant mothers, but safety must come first. The decision about when to stop driving during pregnancy depends on your individual physical condition, medical circumstances, and comfort level. According to studies, proper safety measures significantly reduce risks for both mother and baby during pregnancy.
Is It Safe to Drive Throughout Pregnancy?
Yes, most pregnant women can safely drive throughout their pregnancy, especially during the first and early second trimesters. There isn’t a specific week when all pregnant women must stop driving. Instead, the decision depends on your individual circumstances, physical comfort, and medical history.
Research shows that driving risk does change during pregnancy. Interestingly, second-trimester crash rates surge to 7.66 per 1,000 women—42% higher than pre-pregnancy rates. This increase may be due to hormone changes, sleep disturbances, and new distractions. Your risk profile changes as your pregnancy progresses, with physical limitations becoming more significant in the third trimester.
The most important factor for safety is wearing your seatbelt properly. Studies show unbelted pregnant women face 2.77 times higher stillbirth risk after accidents. Properly positioned seatbelts protect both you and your baby without increasing risk to either of you.
Remember that safety isn’t just about whether you can drive, but whether you can do so comfortably while maintaining full control of your vehicle. As your pregnancy advances, you’ll need to continuously assess your condition and make adjustments.
How to Safely Drive While Pregnant
Adapting your driving habits during pregnancy is essential for maintaining safety. Here are the key adjustments you should make:
Maintain proper positioning with at least 10 inches between your breastbone and the steering wheel to protect against airbag injuries. As your pregnancy progresses, you may need to move your seat further back while still ensuring you can comfortably reach the pedals.
Adjust your steering wheel position upward to accommodate your growing belly while maintaining control. This prevents your abdomen from touching the wheel, which can become uncomfortable and potentially dangerous in later stages of pregnancy.
Take more frequent breaks during longer drives to stretch your legs and improve circulation, especially after the first trimester. This helps prevent swelling and cramping that could affect your ability to operate vehicle controls safely.
Keep your seatbelt properly positioned at all times, even if it feels uncomfortable. The minor discomfort of a correctly worn seatbelt is always preferable to the severe risks of driving unbelted during pregnancy.
Proper Seatbelt Positioning During Pregnancy
Wearing your seatbelt correctly is perhaps the most critical safety measure when driving while pregnant:
- Position the lap belt below your belly and across your hips and upper thighs. This placement cradles the pelvic bones rather than pressing against your abdomen and growing baby.
- Place the shoulder belt between your breasts and to the side of your belly. Never position it under your arm or behind your back, as this dramatically reduces protection.
- Ensure the belt lies flat against your body without twisting, which could concentrate force in a narrow area during a collision.
Many pregnant women make the mistake of positioning the lap belt over their belly or leaving it too loose for comfort. However, in a collision, a loose belt allows excessive movement, while a belt over the abdomen places direct pressure on your baby. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration emphasizes that seat belts should fit snugly while accommodating your changing body.
Vehicle Adjustments for Pregnant Drivers
As your pregnancy progresses, you’ll need to make specific adjustments to your vehicle setup:
Seat Position: Move your seat back to maintain at least 10 inches between your breastbone and the steering wheel, while still being able to comfortably reach the pedals. You may need to recline the seat back slightly for comfort.
Steering Wheel: Tilt the steering wheel upward and away from your abdomen to create more space for your growing belly. This adjustment becomes increasingly important after about 20 weeks.
Headrest: Adjust the headrest to align with the thickest part of the back of your head, not your neck. This provides better protection against whiplash injuries.
Mirrors: Reposition your mirrors to accommodate your new seating position, ensuring you maintain good visibility around your vehicle.
Airbags: Keep airbags enabled at all times. Despite concerns about airbag injuries, properly positioned airbags with correct seat positioning provide critical protection in crashes. The combination of seatbelts, proper positioning, and functional airbags offers the best protection for pregnant drivers.
These adjustments should evolve throughout your pregnancy as your body changes. What works at 20 weeks may need modification by 30 weeks as your belly grows.
Medical Signs to Stop Driving During Pregnancy
While most pregnant women can drive safely throughout pregnancy, certain symptoms and conditions should prompt you to limit or stop driving. These warning signs indicate your driving ability might be compromised:
Blurred vision or dizziness: These symptoms, which can occur due to pregnancy-related changes in blood pressure or blood sugar, significantly impair your ability to drive safely.
Severe fatigue: Pregnancy often causes fatigue, but when tiredness affects your reaction time and concentration, driving becomes dangerous.
Regular contractions: Whether they’re Braxton Hicks contractions or early labor contractions, they can be distracting and potentially dangerous while driving.
Pain or discomfort that diverts your attention: Back pain, round ligament pain, or abdominal discomfort that takes your focus away from the road indicates you should reconsider driving.
Swelling that affects pedal control: When swelling in your feet and ankles makes it difficult to operate the pedals with precision, it’s time to limit driving.
Always consult your healthcare provider about these symptoms. They can provide personalized guidance about driving limitations based on your specific medical circumstances.
Physical Limitations That Make Driving Unsafe
As pregnancy progresses, several physical changes may impair your ability to drive safely:
Decreased mobility: The growing baby bump can limit your range of motion, making it harder to check blind spots, reach controls, or turn quickly in emergency situations.
Fatigue and “pregnancy brain”: Hormonal changes and sleep disruptions can affect concentration and reaction time. If you find yourself unusually distracted or forgetful, consider limiting your driving.
Leg cramps and circulation issues: These common pregnancy symptoms can affect your ability to operate pedals consistently and may warrant taking breaks during longer drives.
Increased size of your abdomen: When your belly comes close to or touches the steering wheel even with seat adjustments, driving becomes mechanically difficult and potentially unsafe.
Nausea or reflux while driving: These symptoms can be sudden and severe, potentially creating dangerous situations if they occur while you’re behind the wheel.
Unlike reaching a specific week of pregnancy, these physical limitations provide objective indicators of when driving may no longer be safe. They vary greatly between individuals – some women may experience minimal limitations even at 38 weeks, while others might face significant challenges much earlier.
Medical Conditions Requiring Driving Restrictions
Certain pregnancy complications often come with activity restrictions that include driving limitations:
Preeclampsia: This pregnancy complication involving high blood pressure can cause vision problems and other symptoms that make driving dangerous. Your healthcare provider will likely recommend restricting activities, including driving.
Placenta previa: This condition, where the placenta partially or completely covers the cervix, carries risk of sudden bleeding. Many healthcare providers advise against driving, particularly long distances, if you have placenta previa.
Threatened preterm labor: If you’ve experienced signs of preterm labor, your healthcare provider might recommend limiting driving to reduce activity level and stress.
Certain complications of gestational diabetes: Visual changes or other symptoms related to blood sugar fluctuations can impair driving ability.
High-risk multiple pregnancies: Women carrying twins, triplets or higher-order multiples often face more restrictive activity guidelines, including earlier driving limitations.
These medical restrictions are prescribed by healthcare providers based on your specific situation. Always follow medical advice about driving limitations, especially with high-risk pregnancies. At Setareh Law, we’ve worked with many clients who have faced pregnancy complications following accidents, and we understand the importance of these precautions.
Third Trimester Driving Considerations
The third trimester brings unique challenges for pregnant drivers. While there’s no universal rule about stopping at a specific week, many healthcare providers recommend limiting driving after 36 weeks, especially for long distances.
The physical changes become most pronounced during this time. Your growing belly might make it difficult to maintain a safe distance from the steering wheel. Decreased mobility can affect your ability to check blind spots or react quickly in emergencies. Increased fatigue and the baby’s larger size pressing on your bladder mean you’ll need more frequent breaks.
While crash risks remain elevated compared to pre-pregnancy (though lower than the second-trimester peak), the physical discomfort and limitations become the primary concerns. If you continue driving in late pregnancy:
- Plan routes with available restrooms
- Take breaks every 30-60 minutes on longer drives
- Avoid rush hour when possible to reduce stress
- Keep drives shorter when possible
- Have a communication plan in case of emergency
Many women find that around 35-38 weeks, driving becomes too uncomfortable to continue, though this varies significantly between individuals. The key is listening to your body and being honest about your limitations.
When Is It Time to Hand Over the Keys?
Rather than focusing on a specific pregnancy week, look for these objective indicators that it’s time to stop driving:
- Your belly touches or comes very close to the steering wheel even after making all possible adjustments to your seat and steering wheel position.
- You experience regular Braxton Hicks contractions or other pre-labor symptoms that could be distracting or concerning while driving.
- Fatigue becomes overwhelming to the point where you have trouble maintaining concentration on routine drives.
- Getting in and out of the driver’s seat becomes difficult or painful, indicating decreased mobility that could affect emergency maneuvers.
- Your healthcare provider specifically recommends limiting driving based on your individual pregnancy situation.
- You experience significant anxiety or discomfort while driving that wasn’t present earlier in your pregnancy.
When you notice these signs, it’s wise to begin transitioning to alternative transportation. This doesn’t necessarily mean stopping driving completely at first—you might start by avoiding highways, limiting drive time, or only driving in ideal conditions before eventually handing over the keys entirely.
Plan for this transition by arranging alternative transportation options before you need them. Discuss transportation needs with your partner, family, and friends so they can help when necessary.
Transportation Alternatives in Late Pregnancy
When driving becomes uncomfortable or unsafe in late pregnancy, having reliable alternatives is essential:
Rideshare services: Apps like Uber and Lyft provide on-demand transportation. Create accounts and test these services before you need them regularly. Some services even allow you to schedule rides in advance for medical appointments.
Public transportation: If available in your area, buses and trains can be viable options, especially those with priority seating for pregnant women. Check routes and schedules in advance, particularly noting accessibility features.
Family and friend networks: Create a rotation of people who can drive you to appointments, work, or errands. A shared online calendar can help coordinate these arrangements.
Delivery services: Many grocery stores, pharmacies, and retailers now offer home delivery, reducing the need for transportation altogether.
Employer accommodations: Discuss work-from-home options with your employer for the final weeks of pregnancy if your job allows this flexibility.
The key is planning these alternatives before they become necessary. Begin researching and testing options around 30-32 weeks, even if you’re still comfortable driving, so you’re prepared when circumstances change.
Planning for Emergency Situations
Having emergency transportation plans is crucial during late pregnancy:
- Create an emergency contact list specifically for transportation needs. Include multiple backup options and keep this list readily accessible.
- Research hospital routes from common locations like your home, workplace, or frequently visited places. Know exactly how long these routes typically take at different times of day.
- Keep a hospital bag in any vehicle you regularly ride in, containing essential documents, comfort items, and necessities for both you and your baby.
- Practice using your alternative transportation options at least once before you need them in an emergency. Familiarize yourself with how to quickly request emergency rides through apps or services.
- Consider what to do if labor starts while driving. If you’re still driving in late pregnancy, know when to pull over safely, whom to call, and how to proceed if contractions begin while you’re behind the wheel.
- Establish a communication plan with your partner or support person so they can quickly join you or meet you at the hospital.
Being prepared for these scenarios provides peace of mind and ensures you won’t face additional stress during what’s already a physically and emotionally demanding time.
Contact Setareh Law for Post-Accident Support
Pregnancy is a journey that requires continuous adaptation, including when it comes to driving safety. The decision about when to stop driving should be based on your individual circumstances, physical comfort, and medical advice—not an arbitrary timeline. By following proper safety protocols, recognizing your changing limitations, and planning alternatives, you can maintain both independence and safety throughout your pregnancy.
At Setareh Law, we understand the unique concerns facing pregnant women following vehicle accidents. Our experienced personal injury attorneys have helped numerous expectant mothers navigate medical care, insurance claims, and compensation following accidents. With over $250 million recovered for our clients and more than 60 years of combined experience, we provide comprehensive support during difficult times. If you’ve been involved in an accident during pregnancy, contact our Beverly Hills office at (310) 356-0023 or use our online contact form for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
