Effects of seat belts worn by pregnant drivers during low-impact collisions.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to understand the injury mechanisms of pregnant drivers and associated fetal outcomes.


METHODS
Frontal and rear impact tests using a dummy representing the anthropometry of a pregnant woman were conducted.


RESULTS
In frontal impact tests without a seat belt, abdominal pressure peaked at the point where the dummy contacted the steering wheel. Rear impact tests without a seat belt showed that the dummy moved forward because of rebound and contacted the steering wheel, which was avoided when a seat belt was worn.


CONCLUSIONS
Wearing a seat belt reduces abdominal pressure or prevents contact with the steering wheel during collisions.
Motozawa
Yasuki
Y
Department of Legal Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan.
Hitosugi
Masahito
M
Abe
Takeshi
T
Tokudome
Shogo
S
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000592:standards*