Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
This post includes affiliate links.
As a parent we know how important it is to keep our children safe in the car. As a dog owner also, we have to be vigilant to keep our dogs safe in the car as well. This not only ensures our pets safety but our family’s too.
After all a dog not properly restrained in the car is an unrestrained passenger that in a crash becomes dangerous for everyone else. Car seat technicians will tell you anything not buckled down in the car will become a projectile during a crash. Unrestrained passengers or pets also become a projectile during a crash.
According to the pet advocacy group BarkBuckleUp, a 60-pound dog in a car traveling 35 mph can turn into a 2,700-pound projectile in an accident. This can cause serious injuries not only to the unrestrained passenger but to all the other passengers as well.
Whether at the park, at home, on walks, during travel, or in the car, our furry friends deserve to be safe. While taking dogs on car rides is common and sometimes inevitable, such as for veterinary appointments or moving homes. It’s crucial to prioritize their safety.
The excitement of a car ride with your pup should be coupled with thoughtful planning for their well-being and yours.
What does the law say
States differ on laws regarding transporting dogs. Whether or not a state has a law about transporting dogs, these basic rules apply:
- Don’t transport a dog in a truck bed unless the dog is safety retrained, most likely in a crate.
- Don’t transport a dog in a closed trunk.
- It’s safer to not have your dog on your lap when you are driving.
- You cannot lead a dog that is outside your car or vehicle, while the car or vehicle is moving.
States that have laws stating that your dog must wear a dog restraint in a vehicle include:
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Rhode Island
You can investigate the laws in your state. Some actually have laws against having an unrestrained dog in the car. Some specify what kind of restraint to use. Other states have laws about distracted driving for which driving with an unrestrained dog may apply.
What not to do
For some, allowing their dog to roam freely in the car might seem feasible. However, dogs can be unpredictable. Even the most attentive owners can experience distracted driving accidents. According to Kurgo and the American Automobile Association, around 80% of dog owners admit to driving with their pets unrestrained. Unrestrained pets cause more than 10,000 car accidents every year.
Driving with a dog on your lap, letting them hang their head out the window, or allowing them to roam freely poses significant dangers. These unrestrained pets can cause distractions that lead to accidents. Even if the pet is being distracting while its head is out of the window, it’s a dangerous habit. Dogs have been thrown from vehicles out the open window and killed when brakes were applied suddenly.
To ensure a safe car ride for your furry companion, consider these tried-and-true tips for pet parents.
What to do
You definitely want your dog to be safe and keep your whole family at the same time. So it’s a good idea to invest in a pet safety harness or safe crate or carrier to keep your dog in. There are no federal safety standards set for these products. However, Center for Pet Safety conducted tests of various harnesses, crates and carriers based on FMVSS 213 which is the standards for child safety restraints. Using these tests they evaluate pet travel products.
Harnesses:
Dog car harnesses are akin to human seat belts. Harnesses secure dogs in the car, restricting them to a specific area. Harnesses are specially useful for medium or large-sized dogs.
Some harnesses are specially crash tested to keep dogs safer in a crash and keep them in place. For instance the Sleepypod Clickit is designed with three points of contact to reduce forward and lateral movement in the event of a crash or sudden stop and energy absorbing materials to protect your dog. This harness is on Center for Pet Safety’s top-performing list.
While not on the list of products approved by Center for Pet Safety, Kurgo says they also crash tested their Impact Harness based on FMVSS 213 standards. The company also said they had tests completed at two universities and at Calspan, a well-known crash test lab. This harness is designed with single piece tubular webbing with reinforced bar tacking and crash tested with a specially designed crash test dog dummy.
Travel crates:
Ideal for highly anxious or reactive dogs, travel crates provide a safe space for your dog, while minimizing the risk of accidents caused by reactive behavior. They’re particularly beneficial for long-distance travel, offering a comfortable and contained environment for your dog.
For large dogs, you’ll need a large crate and a space to fit it in the car. The benefit to a crate for a large dog is it can be strapped down in the cargo area of a truck or SUV and, if large, is unlikely to fit between the seat back and roof of the car to become a projectile to passengers in the front of the car. Two crates met Center for Pet Safety’s protocols: Gunner Kennels G1 and Lucky Duck Lucky Kennel Intermediate.
For smaller dogs who fit in a small crate or carrier that can fit on a seat, you’ll want to find one that can be buckled. For instance, the Sleepypod carriers are pet carriers that moonlight as crash-tested pet car seats. It can be buckled in with a seat belt through its seat belt straps. The Air, Atom, Mini and Pet Bed all earned Center for Pet Safety’s crash test certification.
Net or Barrier:
Nets or barriers can be installed to contain your dog in the backseat or cargo area, ensuring they don’t venture into the front. Folding down back seats to extend into the trunk creates a larger space for your pup.
However, while this may keep the dog from being a distraction while driving, nets and barriers may not necessarily keep the dog in the back during a crash. Properly restraining your dog is a better option.
Opt for a Safety-Feature Heavy Model
Consider upgrading your vehicle to a newer model with advanced safety features to enhance overall protection. Blind-spot monitoring, automatic braking, lane-keep assist, and heads-up displays contribute to accident prevention and improved well-being during travel. That way if your pup is distracting you, hopefully your car will alert you of danger in time to prevent a crash.
Eliminate Distractions
These built-in precautions can double your awareness on the road. But just as you would with kids in the backseat, make sure you’re mindful of eliminating additional distractions. Avoid phone use, refrain from making calls (even hands-free), and maintain a low radio volume to stay focused on the road.
Ultimately, keeping your dog safe in the car is an important step in also keeping your children safe in the car. Prioritizing your dog’s safety during car rides involves thoughtful planning, proper restraints, and an understanding of your dog’s comfort level. By opting for safety features, eliminating distractions, and using a proper restraint, you can ensure a safe and happy car ride for both your family and your furry friend.
By Amie Durocher, Creative Director at Safe Ride 4 Kids and certified CPS Tech since 2004
Copyright 2024 Safe Ride 4 Kids. All rights reserved. You may not publish, broadcast, rewrite or redistribute this material without permission. You are welcome to link to Safe Ride 4 Kids or share on social media.
We originally published this post in January 2023. We rewrote the article to better relay the safety concerns of driving with a dog.
