Pregnancy is a time of excitement, expectation and change. A new study also suggests extra caution is needed when driving.
Recent research in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has news you can use if you have a baby on board. Consider these points:
- Canadian researchers wondered if conditions experienced by pregnant women, like stress, fatigue and nausea had an impact on involvement in vehicle accidents.
- Looking at data from Ontario between 2006 and 2011, the study evaluated the medical records of 500,000 pregnant women.
- The study found the risk of a serious vehicle accident was no greater than average in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy.
- During the second trimester, the risk of serious injury from a motor vehicle accident rose 42 percent.
Lead researcher, Dr. Donald Redelmeier said, "What we wondered was how all those factors might contribute to driver error and the possibility of a life-threatening motor vehicles crash ... I was surprised by the magnitude of the effect. ... It's a substantial risk."
For pregnant women, the increased risk of accident in the second trimester is similar to driving while suffering from sleep apnea. Safety tips include taking extra time to get where you are going, do not drive distracted and pay close attention to speed limits and rules of the road.
When you are pregnant, slow down and enjoy the ride. If you are injured in Florida, talk to an experienced personal injury attorney in Bradenton.