Vehicle Safety Innovations Intervene in Horrible Car Crash

Below are videos that document a horrible car crash involving a pregnant woman who is very lucky to be alive today.  If you need more examples there are several other videos you can look up. The point is simple: pregnant women get into accidents too.  It’s something that we don’t really want to hear about, but it happens.  In 2008, over 27,000 pregnant women were killed in automobile accidents. In fact, statistics show that automobile accidents are the largest cause of pregnant fatalities. What is more terrifying than thinking of your unborn baby going through an accident?

As far as safety goes, the major focus has always been on infant safety and child seats while the specific safety needs of expecting mothers was perhaps overlooked a bit. That is starting to change, however, as the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM), a group of 11 car companies including GM, Ford and Chrysler, has recently taken interest in progressing the safety of pregnant women in their vehicles in the event of a horrible car crash.

The current focus in the progression of making vehicles safer for pregnant women are computer models, and monitoring the effects of a crash on “pregnant” crash dummies. More intricate systems will take time to implement, but you can plan on seeing specific safety belt instructions for pregnant women in the near future.

In the meantime keep safety in mind as you pick out your family’s new vehicle. There are certain vehicles that were created with the family in mind, like the Chevy Traverse. The Traverse provides a comfortable ride, and was rated the “Family Vehicle of the Year” by many different organizations including Kelly Blue book and SEAMO, based on its safety, capacity, ergonomics, and accessibility.

New Year’s Resolution for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers? Keep mom and her soon to be baby boy or girl safe.