Although Minnesota has not reached the national goal yet, the increase in belt use has saved many lives. It is estimated that since 1985 approximately 850 lives have been saved due to increased seat belt use, to see a table describing this information click here . Safety belts keep you in position during pre-crash braking or maneuvering so that you do not end up too close to the air bag when it deploys. Because airbags deploy at speeds faster than the blink of an eye, this force can injure or kill those who are too close to it. For more information about airbags and who should consider installing an on-off switch for an airbag, click here .
Many pregnant women worry about wearing a seat belt.
However, the biggest risk to an unborn baby is injury to the mother. If the mother isn't buckled up, her risk of injury in a crash is greatly increased. If you are pregnant, wear the lap belt under your stomach, as low on the hips as possible and against the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should rest between your breasts. Make sure that the straps fit as snugly as possible.