New seatbelt safety device for pregnant women

(17/02/2010)

Studies show that only 11% of pregnant women wear their seatbelts according to government guidelines, placing the lap belt under the bump and the diagonal belt around the bump, and many women do not wear a seat belt at all.

Records are not kept on how many women in the UK lose their babies each year in car crashes as the foetus is unborn, although figures in America estimate car crashes could be responsible for the miscarriage of more than 5000 babies a year.

Manchester entrepreneur Stephen Weston has developed a new seatbelt safety device for pregnant women. Current products only focus on comfort and don’t address the issue of safety of a pregnancy bump. The design of Stephen’s new product deals with both safety and comfort by moving the traditional diagonal strap away from the bump, and introducing a shoulder harness.

Stephen’s initial idea for this new invention was inspired after hearing a heavily pregnant woman had been prosecuted for not wearing her seatbelt as the recommended position was too uncomfortable. He felt that pregnant women should not have to choose between comfort and the safety of their unborn children. He immediately sketched his ideas for a harness spreading the force across the shoulders, down on the back of an envelope. Now after six years of research, development, and tests he is getting ready to launch his brand new product.

Stephen explains, “The traditional diagonal seatbelt strap, whilst saving the wearer, can be very dangerous for pregnant women in the case of a car accident, if it impacts across the bump. Expectant mothers shouldn’t have to choose between comfort and safety. There are no other products which can completely remove the need for the diagonal strap to be positioned awkwardly across the body. We believe we can save thousands of women the pain and agony of losing an unborn child in car accidents.”

Related categories:  Children health and children safety   Pregnancy 

Car and automotive | Cosmetics, skincare, perfume and toiletry | Gifts and presents | Gold, silver and precious metals | Alternative investment | Phones, adsl and broadband | Art, paintings, sculpture

Security systems | Plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning | Electrical distribution, lighting, power generation, automation and control | Construction equipment | Environmental technology and renewable energy