Most dog owners will need to carry their dogs in a car at some time or another. We explore the rules and what you should do to keep yourself and your dog safe
If you plan to carry your dog in the car, the law is pretty straightforward. Rule 57 of the Highway Code states that you must “make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained” in a vehicle. So, you can’t have Bonzo wandering around the car’s cabin or sticking his head out of the window as he sees fit.
This rule is in place to protect you, your dog and other road users. Imagine if your dog were to suddenly jump onto your lap after seeing something enticing out of the driver’s side window? You run the risk of a crash, and possibly injuring yourself, your canine companion or another road user.
If that crash were severe enough to activate your car’s airbags, there’s a good chance these could injure or even kill your dog. And on top of that, you’ll be liable for at least a hefty fine. For these reasons, a proper dog restraint is essential whenever you carry a dog in your car.
You wouldnt think twice about travelling with a child or other passenger in your vehicle with ensuring they are safely secured so why do we forget about our pets? By taking unrestrained pets in a car drivers are putting themselves at risk of potentially deadly distractions.
A third of drivers have never even heard of Rule 57 of the Highway Code and some insurance companies are now warning customers that their car insurance could be invalid of they are involved in a accident with an unrestrained pet in your vehicle.
If you are involved in an incident and have an unrestrained pet or passenger for that matter in the back seats this can potentially be deadly for you and your pet/passenger.
We are a nation of animal lovers, from our small furries to our larger pets, and we consider them all as part of the family, but did you know you could face fines of up to £2,500 and penalty points on your licence and in extreme cases a driving ban and compulsory re-test for travelling with an unrestrained pet in your vehicle?
As Rule 57 of the Highway Code states “When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.” Although disobeying the highway doesnt necessarily mean you will be will receive a penalty, the police could pull you over and charge you with driving without due care and attention with carries a maximum fine of £2,500 and nine penalty points.
Does driving with a pet in my car affect car insurance?
If you have an accident as a result of driving with an unrestrained pet in the car your insurance might not cover you.
As we mentioned, this could be classed as careless driving. So it’s likely your insurer won’t pay out for this.
Also, if you end up with a driving conviction due to careless driving, you could face higher insurance premiums in the future.
Is it legal to drive with your pet on your lap?
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UK motorists who travel with their pets could be breaking the law and could end up being slapped with a big fine.
Thats because animals need to wear a seatbelt just the same as humans and not making your pet wear one is a breach of the Highway Code, reports the Mirror.
The Code points out that if an animal moves about during a journey it could trigger an accident and also warns drivers not to put their pets in the front seat for the same reason.
Car expert Mark Tongue at Select Car Leasing, explains: “Most dog owners will know they need to keep their pet suitably restrained when they’re in a car, as stipulated by the Highway Code.
“But many owners are left confused as to whether dogs are allowed in the front seat or not. It’s something of a grey area.
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“Whilst not particularly recommended – dogs should generally be in the backseat or boot for their own safety.
“You should only ever have your dog by your side while driving if you’re able, and know how, to disable the front passenger airbag, as some vehicles don’t actually have an override function.
“Failing to disable the airbag could result in catastrophic injuries for a dog. An airbag is designed to provide protection for a human, not a canine, and the cushioning is simply in the wrong place.
“When an airbag deploys it does so with so much force it could even crush a dog cage.”
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To turn it off, you’ll typically find the switch either in the glove box or located on the left hand side of the passenger dashboard.
Tongue adds that if you are considering carrying your dog in the front of your car, be sure to move the seat as far back as it will go, minimising the risk of the dog striking the glovebox or windscreen during a collision.
“We’d recommend you don’t let your dog stick its head out of the window,” he explains.
“Not only does that potentially illustrate that the animal is not restrained properly, there’s also the obvious risk of its head coming into contact with something, like a bush or a tree, resulting in a bad injury.
“And make no mistake – if you don’t have your dog properly restrained, and it’s causing distraction, you could be prosecuted by the law.”
Recent research by the Dogs Trust found 76 per cent of dogs have no formal training on how to behave in the car, while only 60 per cent of people believe that having a dog unrestrained in the car is dangerous.
They advise that dogs should not travel in the front of the car and the Trust suggest ensuring a dog is well hydrated before a journey.
If you’re just getting your dog used to the car for the first time, make sure you bring something along that’ll offer some reassurance, such as a blanket or toy, and which carries its scent.
And begin with short journeys before progressing to longer ones – and always try to find journeys with a positive association at the end of it, such as a walk in the woods, rather than a visit to the vet!
The risk is a fine of up to £5,000 for careless driving as well as the risk of an accident on the road.
Rachel Wait, at MoneySuperMarket, explains: “While driving with your pet in your car – whether in the boot or on a seat – might seem like a harmless way of getting from A to B, the truth is you can risk invalidating your car insurance.
“If you’re in a prang with an unrestrained pet in your car, insurers may use it against you – regardless of whether it was as a direct result of the animal itself – so it’s worth being on the safe side and making sure ‘man’s best friend’ is properly restrained.
“Always read your policy in full to make sure you have the correct level of cover for your needs. If not, shop around to see if you are getting the best deal – you could save up to £245 per year simply by switching provider, and it doesnt take long to do.”
It states: “When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly.
“A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.”
And while breaking the Highway Code doesnt carry a direct penalty, if youre deemed to be distracted on the road, you can be fined £1,000 on the spot for careless driving. This carries a maximum fine of £5,000 and nine penalty points depending on the severity of it.
In extreme cases, the incident could also result in a driving ban and a compulsory re-test.
The law recommends a seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or guard as ways of restraining your pet while driving.
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