Driver's License Test Prep
California Practice Safety Belts & Restraints

The California manual says a pregnant driver should position the lap belt where?

  1. A.
    Across the top of the abdomen, above the belly.
  2. B.
    As low as possible under the abdomen. Correct
  3. C.
    Loose across the lap, with slack for comfort.
The Why

The answer is "As low as possible under the abdomen."

The manual tells a pregnant driver to keep the lap belt as low as possible under the abdomen, so crash force loads the pelvic bones instead of the belly. Choice A follows the instinct to lift the belt away from the baby, which is the exact position that concentrates the load on the abdomen in a crash.

Why the others miss

The traps in the wrong answers

A. Across the top of the abdomen, above the belly.

The manual says to keep the lap belt as low as possible under the abdomen, not above the belly. This answer lifts the belt to protect the baby, which puts crash load on the abdomen instead of the hips.

C. Loose across the lap, with slack for comfort.

The manual requires a snug fit with little to no slack, whether or not the driver is pregnant. This answer trades a tight fit for comfort, ignoring the slack warning the same paragraph makes for every driver.

The Rule

This question tests your knowledge of Safety Belts & Restraints in California. Source: California Driver Manual, "Seat Belts," p.65..

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