With the busy summer travel season upon us, many families are hitting the road with their families – and that of course, means four-legged family members too. According to online pet travel guide TripsWithPets.com, to ensure safe travels for everyone, it’s important to take heed of a very real pet travel safety issue: Pets and distracted driving.
“Distracted driving” brings to mind texting, eating, applying makeup, chatting on the phone or even daydreaming. However, traveling with an unsecured pet is a very real and dangerous distraction.
TripsWithPets.com offers the following information:
AAA, in conjunction with Kurgo, conducted a survey of people who often drive with their pets. The survey showed that a whopping 65 percent of pet parents admitted to partaking in at least one distracting activity while driving with their dog. Additionally, 29 percent of respondents admitted to being distracted by their four-legged travel companions, yet 84 percent indicated that they do not secure their pet in their vehicle. According to the survey, drivers were petting their dogs, putting them in their laps and giving them treats. Some drivers (3 percent) even photographed their dogs while driving.
An unsecured pet can be a distraction while driving. Some pets may become anxious or excited, causing them to jump around or bark while in the vehicle. Additionally, they may crawl on the driver’s lap. Oftentimes, pets can be frightened and there is always an element of unpredictability with any animal. When looking for comfort, dogs and cats may naturally opt to be near you. Unfortunately, this may add to the possible perils caused by these distractions.
Properly securing a pet in a vehicle is also a proactive approach in case there is an accident or sudden stop — even a fender bender can injure an unsecured pet. We wear seatbelts for our safety in case of an accident, and we should take the same care to secure our pets. A pet that is not restrained properly in a vehicle can be seriously harmed or even killed if thrown from a vehicle. Airbags can go off and injure a pet in your lap. In the event of an accident, frightened pets can easily escape from a vehicle and run off.
Restraint options include pet seat belts, pet car seats, travel crates and vehicle pet barriers. Planning to have the right pet safety restraint for your trip will not only keep you and your pet safe but also offer you peace of mind and take one more distraction away.
For more information on traveling with pets, including pet-friendly accommodations in the U.S. and Canada, visit TripsWithPets.com. The site also features airline and car rental pet policies, pet-friendly activities and pet travel gear.
