Pregnant women stand risk of crashing while driving

Why should a woman who is pregnant even be allowed to handle the wheel? well you can at the early stage of pregnancy but the truth is as your child increases in strength and growth in the womb, you are advised to stay away from driving or better still get a driver while you seat and relax your nerves because as a pregnant woman you need lots of rest. well here are some research and findings gathered on the topic as you read pass the message across.
Women are more dangerous behind the wheel when they’re pregnant, according to new research.
A study of more than half a million pregnant women found that factors such as nausea, fatigue, insomnia and distraction could increase the risk of a crash.

One in 50 women will crash during pregnancy
Over the three years before pregnancy, the women under observation had 6,922 crashes – 177 per month on average.
During the second trimester, the women had 757 crashes – a rise of 42% to 252 per month.
This means that, statistically, one in 50 women will be involved in a car accident during pregnancy.
The research was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Is 'baby brain' to blame for bad driving?
In the paper, which is almost certain to prove controversial, researchers mentioned “baby brain” – when pregnant women become forgetful and struggle to concentrate on logical tasks.
The lead author, Dr Donald Redelmeier, a researcher with the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and a physician at Toronto University’s department of medicine, said: “Even a minor motor vehicle crash during pregnancy could lead to irreparable consequences for mother and child. These findings underscore the importance of prevention and indicate that good prenatal care includes safe driving.
“These findings are not a reason to decide not to have children or a reason to stop driving. Instead, the findings primarily emphasise the need to drive more carefully.”

5/18/2014