Question: I’m pregnant and I’ve seen seat belt attachments that clip under the seat and say they make belts safer for pregnant people. Are these safe to use?
Answer: I contacted the expert who is the Community Programs and Occupant Protection Manager for the Minnesota Safety Council and here is what I was advised.
Seat belt adjusters, also called seat belt positioners, are devices that try to move the lap belt so it doesn’t rest across a pregnant person’s belly. Manufacturers claim this reduces pressure and keeps the baby safe in a crash. These devices are not safe and should not be used.
What Crash Tests Showed
- Experts tested these devices using crash test dummies designed to represent pregnant drivers.
- Plastic hooks broke completely in crashes.
- Metal hooks or extra straps pressed on the dummy’s belly or groin.
- All adjusters allowed the dummy to move too far forward, increasing the risk of injury.
- Hard plastic or metal parts in the adjusters can cause extra harm in a crash.
Why They Don’t Work
- The main danger to a baby in a crash is from internal forces on the uterus, called placental abruption. Seat belt adjusters do not prevent these forces.
- Using an adjuster can actually make these forces worse by letting the pregnant driver move too far forward.
How to Wear a Seat Belt
Safely During Pregnancy
- Use the normal three-point seat belt (lap + shoulder belt).
- Lap belt: Low on the hips, under the belly.
- Shoulder belt: Across the chest and off the neck.
- Worn this way, the seat belt protects both mother and baby.
Other Safety Notes
- Manufacturers of seat belt adjusters do not have to meet safety standards.
- Materials and designs vary, and many are not crash-tested.
- Claims of “certified” or “crash tested” are not verified by independent sources.
Bottom line: Do not use seat belt adjusters. Wearing the seat belt correctly is the safest way for pregnant drivers and their babies.
Trusted Resources
- Buckle Up MN: Seat Belt Use for Pregnant People
- NHTSA: Pregnancy Seat Belt Use
- Hudson Center for Prenatal Vehicle Safety
You can avoid a ticket — and a crash — if you simply buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and always drive sober. Help us drive Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths.
If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester MN 55901-5848. Or reach him at Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us.
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