Cushion on driver's seat - does it affect safety?

fiona-f

As my pregnancy advances, I'm finding sitting in my car as either driver or passenger increasingly uncomfortable on my back. I've found that using a small cushion placed at the small of my back, and with the seat more reclined than I usually have it, makes a big improvement. However, is there any risk that using a cushion might affect the safety of the seatbelt or anything else in the event of a collision? I'm not seated on it, just leaning back against it. And would I need to notify this to my insurance company? Thanks.

colm_mcm

I'd imagine the head restraint wouldn't be as effective in preventing whiplash.

cython

colm_mcm wrote: »

I'd imagine the head restraint wouldn't be as effective in preventing whiplash.

Depending on the size of the cushion I would wonder about that, seeing as plenty of cars now come with adjustable lumbar support in the front seats, and a (sufficiently) small cushion would be equivalent to that. Only difference is that it's not factory fitted.

colm_mcm

Lumbar support might push out about an inch?
If the seat is reclined, I'm guessing the OP isn't sitting into the seat

jayok

fiona-f wrote: »

... using a small cushion placed at the small of my back, and with the seat more reclined than I usually have it, makes a big improvement. However, is there any risk that using a cushion might affect the safety of the seatbelt or anything else in the event of a collision? I'm not seated on it, just leaning back against it. And would I need to notify this to my insurance company? Thanks.

The biggest risk is that in a rear-end collision your head is further away from the rear head-rest. As such the risk of whip-lash increases. However, as far as I am aware there is no specific stipulation as to how far the rear of the seat must be away from the driver and anything that is practical is acceptable.

From a mechanical perspective, your distance from the rear-head rest won't affect the belt mechanism or airbags. The seat-belt will still work (and retract depending on the car) and the airbags will deploy. The only concern as I said will be you'll be thrown back into the seat which is marginally further away.

It all depends on how much further away the head-rest is from you. If it's 4-5cm, I would'nt stress about it. If it's 20-30cm, that's a different cause.

Good luck with your pregnancy!

fiona-f

Thanks everyone. I'd rather be uncomfortable than unsafe. I normally prefer quite an upright seat while driving so my new recline is probably what lots of people would consider a normal angle. I hadn't considered the headrest though so I'll see can I get a good position perhaps with a smaller cushion which is right down at the base of my back only and minimise the gap back to the headrest.

Henry Ford III

Is there a special dispensation from seatbelt use for pregnant ladies too?

Dangel4x4

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Is there a special dispensation from seatbelt use for pregnant ladies too?

I don't think pregnant women are exempted unless they have a cert from a doctor?

fiona-f

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Is there a special dispensation from seatbelt use for pregnant ladies too?

I'm pretty sure there isn't, I think this might even be covered by the theory test if I recall correctly. The medical advice is always to use the seatbelt but ensure the lap belt is worn down low under the bump but still fitting snugly around the hips. In my case, the seatbelt itself poses no problems at all, it's just being seated in the low-down moulded seats that adds to the stress on my back.