The dangers of driving with pets

While some people couldn't imagine driving without their pet, others only do it when they have to. Either way, here's how to keep yourself and your pets safe while on the road!

Driving with animals can be very distracting for drivers:

In New Jersey, it is illegal to “improperly” transport animals; which means, they can’t be in your lap. This is probably better for everyone in the car, as the animal might affect the driving. Fines, tickets and possible animal cruelty charges can ensue. There can be distracted driving tickets, which fall under the category of cell phone tickets, which we all know are pretty serious I most states.

It can hurt you, your passengers and the pet:

A lot of people who are driving with their pets in their laps might think it calms the animal during the ride, but maybe it is better to leave them home or restrain them better. Also, it is a bad idea due to safety hazards for both you and the pet. If there is an accident, it can propel the pet forward and cause serious damage or death to the pet. An accident could also freak out the pet and they can cause more harm to you or your passengers. It is best to make sure they are safely contained in the backseat. They have pet carriers or harnesses for animals that clip into the seat belt buckles.

And not to mention, if your pet happens to get on the floor an accidentally messes with the pedals, touches controls they aren’t supposed to or possibly affect the steering or visibility of the driver. There are so many reasons to make sure your pet is safely in the back seat, much like a child would be. Not only can they affect the steering or driving skills, but people may become distracted if the pet is chewing on something or maybe relieving themselves in the vehicle.

Ways to keep them and you safe:

If your pet does have an anxious ride, maybe you can start them off with smaller car rides until they are more comfortable.

Of course, never ever leave your pets unattended in the car, even if it feels cool enough. They could get seriously hurt (learn why here) or someone could hurt them or steal them. 

Try to not let animals have their heads or other body parts out the window; they could get hit by objects, debris or can become irritated. 

They should never be put in the bed of a pickup, either in a cage or not. They could become strangled, dehydrated, burned or die. “It is estimated that at least 100,000 dogs die in accidents each year because they were riding in truck beds.”

Make sure the animals have an up to date ID tag on their collars, with contact information. Also, if you have a microchip in them, make sure that is current as well. 

Felines should generally be secured and restrained (with a seat belt over the carrier) in a carrier because they usually hate driving in cars.

 

So, there are many ways to keep your pet happy and safe on short and long car rides! Always keep their safety, as well as yours, in mind.