Danger of Driving With Pets

A study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 80 percent of drivers admit to bringing their animals along for car rides, whether it be for a cross-country road trip or a quick jaunt to the grocery store.  Out of all those people, only less than a quarter actually have their pet restrained in the car.  According to the AAA in this article , driving with a pet in your vehicle can cause the same amount of distraction as talking on your cell phone.

There are many benefits to keeping your pet confined in the car, either in a crate or in a harness system.  For one, it will prevent the animal from venturing around the vehicle and potentially knocking your car out of gear or become trapped under your feet where the brake and gas pedals are located.  In addition, pets can turn into projectile missiles in the event of a car accident or even sudden braking.  If the animal is flung through the air in an accident, it could cause serious, or even fatal, injuries to you or your passengers.

You can position a barrier between the front and back seats to keep your pet from climbing around and distracting you while driving. Plastic or fabric netting works well.  You can also purchase a plastic crate for your pet to travel in but make sure it is latched down.  There are also booster seats and harness available if your pet is the type that can sit still in one of those.  As a South Carolina personal injury lawyer , I’m not against bringing your pet along for the ride in the car, so long as you make safety a priority.  During these summer months, I urge you to remember not to leave your pet in a car unattended which can lead to heat stroke.