Securing your pet in the car is crucial for their safety, your safety, and it’s also a legal requirement. Here are some methods to ensure your pet is safely restrained during car travel:
- Pet Seat Belts: These can prevent your pet from moving around and causing distractions.
- Harnesses: A good harness can keep your pet secure while allowing some movement.
- Crates and Carriers: Ideal for smaller pets, these can be secured to the car to prevent movement.
- Boot/Luggage Guards: These are more for protecting passengers but won’t protect your pet in an accident.
It’s important to note that unlike human safety devices, pet safety products are not legally required to be crash-tested. However, some products have been certified by the Centre for Pet Safety, such as the SleepyPod Clickit Support Harness and the Gunner Kennel.
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| Cat in a harness attached to a seat belt anchor. Image: Zooplus. |
Remember, at 30mph, an unrestrained 20kg dog can be thrown forward with a force equivalent to the weight of a small moose, posing a serious risk to everyone in the vehicle. Always ensure your pet is suitably restrained whenever you’re driving.
It is a legal requirement in the UK to restrain pets in a vehicle. According to the Highway Code, drivers must ensure that dogs and other animals are suitably restrained in a car. Failure to do so can be considered careless driving, which carries a fine of up to £5,000. Not properly restraining your pet can also invalidate your car insurance and pet insurance, and in the event of an accident, it could be counted as dangerous driving. Always make sure your pet is safely secured whenever you’re traveling with them in a vehicle.
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