The Dangers of Driving with Unrestrained Pets in the Car
Do you drive with your dog in the car? A viral video from the UK shows a dog falling out of the driver's window on a busy highway and left hanging by a leash. The dog was thankfully unharmed, and the video stresses why it's so important to restrain your pup in your moving vehicle.
Wearing a seat belt is a great idea for everyone in the car. Dogs are safest when restrained properly with a canine-friendly seat belt like The Anchor™ Adjustable Pet Seat Belt (available at DJANGO).
Experts are increasing focus on the dangers of driving with unrestrained pets. While cellphones and texting remain key culprits behind many deadly accidents, unrestrained pets are considered another dangerous risk to those on the road.
According to Oregon Senator Bill Hansell, who is currently proposing a law that fines drivers with pets on their laps, "driving with any live animal on your lap presents a distraction and puts the pet, the driver, other passengers and other drivers at significant risk for an accident... an accident that would otherwise be preventable."
In addition to distracting the driver, unrestrained pets can be seriously injured, if not killed, in an accident.
"A pet that weighs 50 pounds, in a 35 mph collision, is projected forward like a cannonball with 1,500 pounds of force," explains Katherine Miller, director of applied science and research for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This exposes the pet to risk of serious injury or death and "can cause critical injuries to the folks in the front seat".
Although statistics on pet-related car accidents are hard to come by, here is what we know:
- 85 million households own a pet, according to the 2017-2018 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA)
- 60% of pet owners have driven with their dog at least once a month in the past year (AAA, Kurgo)
- 23% have used their hands or arms to hold their dog in place while applying brakes (AAA, Kurgo)
- 19% have used their hands or arms to keep their dog from climbing into the front seat (AAA, Kurgo)
According to 2015 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,477 people were killed and 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. How many of these accidents and injuries were the result of unrestrained pets?
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Also in DJANGO Dog Blog
Oma's Pride Raw Dog Food Review: Premium Raw Dog Food, Meaty Bones, and Treats
Mike and I (Steph) began feeding raw dog food to our long-haired dachshund, Django, back in 2022. Since then, we've always been on the lookout for the best raw dog food brands. One reputable brand we recently discovered is Oma's Pride.
Interestingly, Oma's Pride is anything but new. In fact, the Connecticut-based company has been manufacturing raw dog food since the 90s—longer than anyone else on the market!
In this DJANGO Dog Blog article, we provide a detailed review of premium raw dog food company Oma's Pride and their most popular raw dog food recipes. We also provide our thoughts on several Oma's Pride treats, toppers, and raw meaty bones.
The Best Rugs for Dogs That Pee
Even if your dog is the most well-trained pup, pee accidents happen. Our dachshund Django, for instance, is well trained and housebroken. Every so often, however, Django will have a pee accident in our house. Usually this happens when we're distracted by work or busy with our toddlers and forget to take Django outside on time. Occasionally a pee accident will happen simply because Django gets super excited and can't control his bladder.
So, what are the best rugs for dogs? What types of rugs are best for families with small children? What rug fabric types are best for dog owners?
In this DJANGO Dog Blog article, we highlight the best types of rugs for dogs, families with kids, and pets. We consider durability, stain-resistance, and ease of cleaning. Are you looking for a dog-proof rug and pee-proof rug? Keep reading!
15 Thoughtful Holiday Gift Ideas for Dog Lovers and Their Pups
Calling all dog lovers and four-legged family! Unleash happiness this holiday season with our thoughtful dog lovers gift guide that is sure to have tails wagging and hoomans grinning. From beautiful handcrafted cotton rope dog leashes to super stylish weatherproof boots to drool-worthy dog treats, we (DJANGO) have rounded up the crème de la crème of dog gifts for you and every devoted dog lover in your life.
One more thing? We have included incredible discounts for most of our best dog gift recommendations! We have a wide-reaching, dog loving audience, and almost all brands have given us exclusive promo codes for our pawsome readers. Happy shopping, furends!
© 2024 DJANGO. Powered by Shopify
