Driving Safely with Pets: Tips for a Secure and Comfortable Journey
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Car safety extends beyond you and your human family to your pets. After all, if you are buckled in, shouldn't your pet be kept in the car as safe as possible as well? Driving safely with pets is not a difficult task, but it requires following some basic safety tips. Learn the risks of traveling with pets and how to protect them — and you — during car rides.
Introduction to Pet Safety While Traveling
Pet safety is important for all pet owners for several reasons:
- It protects your pets.
- It prevents major distractions for you while driving.
- It ensures you're following the law.
Pet owners are responsible for keeping their pets safe while driving, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Pet safety products and safe-driving tips can help.
Understanding the Risks of Unrestrained Animals
Staying safe while traveling with pets requires some planning, beginning with understanding the risks of driving with unrestrained animals. The primary risk is the potential for distractions. Most states have distracted driving laws because distractions can lead to accidents.
Unrestrained pets can climb on you or pant heavily when they feel nervous. These actions might distract you and may lead to an accident.
Statistics on Pet-Related Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) monitors accident statistics. While they don't record pet accidents, they do record distracted driving statistics. In 2022, the NHTSA recorded 3,308 fatalities from distracted driving car collisions. This statistic doesn't include the total number of non-fatal collisions that occurred.
The truth is that driving with pets can lead to accidents and a risk of injury. For example, you might cause an accident if you take your eyes off the road after your pet distracts you. Your pet might also get injured if you're forced to make a sudden stop while they're unrestrained.
Accidents can happen even without traveling with pets, which is why states have auto insurance laws. Auto insurance protects you while driving, but you may also want to look into auto pet insurance if you routinely take your pets in your car.
Preparing for a Road Trip with Your Furry Friend
Understanding the potential risks is helpful, but proper preparations for road trips with pets are also important. Keep these tips in mind as you plan a road trip with your furry friend:
- Acclimate your pet to car rides by taking them in the car regularly.
- Pack everything your pet needs by creating a travel kit for your pet.
- Purchase pet safety products to keep them safe while driving and to help you avoid being distracted.
- Provide your pet with plenty of exercise to help them release their energy before traveling.
You may also want to brush up on distracted driving laws in the states you're traveling to and make sure you have a good auto insurance policy.
Choosing the Right Vehicle for Traveling with Pets
You may even want to purchase a safer vehicle to use if you plan on frequently driving with your pet in the car. Review crash test ratings for pets in the car when researching the best vehicles. In general, larger vehicles — SUVs and pickup trucks — tend to be a safer option for traveling. The benefits of pickup trucks and SUVs include better safety and crash ratings. If you buy a truck, place your dog inside the cab or in a crate secured in the truck bed.
Tips for Driving Safely with Pets
Safe driving is critical for making it to your destination safely with your pets in tow. Here are the best tips to follow to ensure you keep everyone stay safe.
Use Restraints or Crates
Using seat belts or carriers is the best way to travel with a dog or cat. A pet carrier or crate holds the pet while traveling. You can secure the crate to the seat with the seat belt or straps provided with the carrier. Another option is to use a seat belt harness. This is a device you connect to the dog's harness that prevents it from moving while you drive.
If you're traveling in a pickup truck, place the crate in the back seat. You should never place a loose dog in a truck bed, but you can place a crated dog in a truck bed. If you do this, buckle the crate in so it cannot move.
Keep Them Comfortable
Long car rides can be exhausting for dogs, just like for people, so aim to keep your pet comfortable. The only difference is your dog can't tell you how they feel. Most dogs prefer a cooler temperature and good ventilation. Keep the windows up and the AC on for the best results.
Take Breaks
Your pets will need breaks for exercising and to use the bathroom. Plan on taking breaks every two to four hours when driving a pet in the car to give them time to empty their bladders and move around. While you'll need breaks as well, never leave pets unattended in your vehicle.
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