How Can I Safely Transport My Dog in the Car?

Over 40 million American households have a dog, and many drivers like to take their 4-legged friends along when traveling on vacation, to the store or local park. Unfortunately, most pet owners don’t take the necessary safety precautions when transporting their dogs, which sometimes leads to distracted driving accidents. Many of those crashes are avoidable, and some are even fatal. To keep you and your loveable pet safer when riding around in the car, use these safe driving tips from the experts.  

Distracted Driving Includes Pets  

Petting your puppy while operating a vehicle constitutes distracted driving, as does letting them sit on your lap. Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) doesn’t compile specific pet-related distracted-driving crash statistics, they’ve been lumped in with these general distraction-affected accident figures from 2017:

• Over 3,000 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.
• Nine percent of all traffic accident fatalities involve distracted drivers.
• Six percent of all drivers involved in fatal accidents were reported as being distracted at the time of the accident.
• Nearly 600 non-vehicle occupants (bicyclists, pedestrians, etc.) were killed by distracted drivers. 

Bad Driving Behaviors Dog Owners Use In Their Car 

According to dog owner surveys, many drivers openly admit that they practice these unsafe driving behaviors while transporting their pets around: 

• Not using proper pet safety restraints (84%)
• Getting distracted by their pet (60%)
• Petting their dog while driving (52%)
• Allowing their dog to sit on their lap (17%)
• Giving their pet a treat while driving (13%)

Considering that millions of drivers own a dog, these statistics are quite concerning. 

How To Transport Your Dog Safely From Vehicle Stuffed Roads

So that your trip will be safer for all parties involved, including bicyclists, fellow motorists, and pedestrians, always use these tips when transporting your dog: 

Use Car Restraints

Before hitting the road, make sure that your pet has a safe, secure and comfortable place to ride in. Here are some ways to ‘use restraint’ while the vehicle is moving: 

• Dog barrier. These resemble gates, are adjustable and available to fit most vehicle models. Even when using a dog barrier your pet can still see you for reassurance. 

• Crate or carrier. Depending on the animal’s size, find a well-ventilated carrier or crate that gives them plenty of room to sit, stand, lie down or turn around in. Then secure the crate itself so it doesn’t move around, especially in you get rear-ended. 

• Harness. These attach to your car’s seatbelts and are essentially safety restraints for dogs. Just like small children in car seats, make sure to harness your dog in the back seat for added safety and security. 

Heads Belong Inside Vehicles 

You wouldn’t allow a small child to ride with their head out the window, so why let your dog do it? That’s just asking for trouble if their loveable face smacks into a solid object at high speed. Thousands of dogs are also injured or killed every year when falling out of pickup truck beds, so don’t let your furry friend ride back there either.  

Pack a Travel Kit For Your Car

Never leave your pet unattended in the car for more than a few minutes, and on longer road trips always pack them a travel kit that includes:

• Bowl, leash and bottled water
• Their medications
• Vaccination records (When crossing state lines) 
• Food and doggie treats
• Grooming supplies 

When Driving, Address ‘Travel Anxiety’ 

Signs of pet travel anxiety include loud barking, excessive panting and nervous pacing. If not addressed, travel anxiety can morph into full-blown panic, so talk to your vet about safe ways to manage travel anxiety. 

Customer-Reviewed Collision Repairs Are Only a Click Away

When your ride gets dinged up in an accident, promptly locate a local auto body or glass repair shop featured in the nationwide Carwise referral network. All shops listed on Carwise are I-CAR and ASE-certified, which means they have the well-trained technicians, high-tech equipment and innovative services necessary to restore your vehicle like new again promptly and reliably. Most speak directly with insurance adjusters, so you don’t have to, and warranty their repair outcomes to restore your peace of mind.

Search your zip code now for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby: www.carwise.com.