Any pregnant women wants to do what is best for her unborn baby. But car travel while pregnant definitely has some misconceptions. The most common: that seatbelts and airbags pose big risks and you are better off without them. Studies do show that while seatbelts and airbags can pose risks to a fetus, it’s almost always because the seatbelt wasn’t worn at all, was worn incorrectly or the pregnant driver was positioned too close to the airbag. After all, the leading cause of death to fetuses is the death of pregnant women in crashes. That said it makes since that the primary way to protect the fetus is to protect the driver

To reduce the risk to their unborn child, pregnant women need to drive carefully, of course. But because you can’t avoid all crashes, it’s important to wear the safety belt correctly — with the lap belt under, not across your belly and the shoulder belt between your breasts. Pregnant women who aren’t wearing safety belts and sit so their abdomens are right up against the airbag when it deploys are putting their babies at the most risk. Studies show that using seatbelts properly nearly eliminates the increased risk from airbags in car crashes.

Some other key tips are to move the front seat as far back as possible. Make sure your breastbone is at least 10 inches from the steering wheel. Move the seat back as your abdomen grows to keep as much distance as possible between the steering wheel and the airbag while still operating your vehicle safely. And keep the lap belt below your belly and the shoulder belt between your breasts.

Automakers are starting to pay attention to women’s needs.  Since the 1998 model year, cars with upper seatbelts that come out of the B-pillar are also required to have adjustable anchors. This helps everyone to keep belts from cutting into their necks or riding across their breasts.  Adjustable steering wheels, particularly ones that telescope in and out, can be especially helpful for drivers of varying stages of pregnancy. Even lower-end models often have manual devices that can help you point the center of the steering wheel away from the belly and toward the chest. Adjustable pedals, now available in many Fords and other models, can help shorter pregnant women drive more easily without sitting too close to the airbag. At least one company has developed a crash test dummy that simulates a pregnant woman that some automakers use to gather research that until recently has not been directed specifically to pregnant women. Furthermore, more education is needed so pregnant women know the keys to seatbelt safety.