Driving With Pets
[vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=”” seperator_1=”” ts_row_bg_effects=”” ts_row_bg_image=”” ts_row_bg_source=”full” ts_row_break_parents=”4″ ts_row_zindex=”0″ ts_row_min_height=”100″ ts_row_bg_position=”center” ts_row_bg_position_custom=”” ts_row_bg_size_standard=”cover” ts_row_bg_size_parallax=”cover” ts_row_bg_repeat=”no-repeat” seperator_2=”” ts_row_parallax_type=”up” ts_row_bg_alignment_v=”center” ts_row_bg_alignment_h=”center” ts_row_parallax_speed=”20″ seperator_3=”” ts_row_automove_speed=”75″ ts_row_automove_scroll=”true” ts_row_automove_align=”horizontal” ts_row_automove_path_h=”leftright” ts_row_automove_path_v=”topbottom” seperator_4=”” padding_top=”30″ padding_bottom=”30″ margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ single_color=”#ffffff” seperator_5=”” gradient_angle=”0″ gradient_color_start=”#cccccc” gradient_start_offset=”0″ gradient_color_end=”#cccccc” gradient_end_offset=”100″ seperator_6=”” video_youtube=”” video_background=”” video_mute=”true” video_loop=”false” video_start=”false” video_stop=”true” video_controls=”true” video_raster=”false” animation_view=”” css3animations_in=”” animation_scroll=”false” animation_speed=”2000″ el_file1=”” el_file2=””][vc_column width=”1/3″ seperator_1=”Viewport Animation” animation_view=”” css3animations_in=”” animation_scroll=”false” animation_speed=”2000″ el_file1=”” el_file2=””][vc_single_image image=”3863″ border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″ seperator_1=”Viewport Animation” animation_view=”” css3animations_in=”” animation_scroll=”false” animation_speed=”2000″ el_file1=”” el_file2=””][vc_column_text]Once you receive your license, you are likely excited to get in the car with your furry friend. However, before you start to drive with your pet, you need to know some safety tips to keep both you and your pet safe. Failure to do so could prove fatal.
Wait Awhile Before Driving with Pets
While you may be eager to start driving with your pet, that is not the best idea. You are just starting to get used to driving by yourself. Having a pet in the car can act as an additional distraction. Instead of just focusing on yourself, you might be tempted to pet your dog or talk to your cat. Also, if your pet gets loose from the seat or crate, the animal could jump to where you are sitting and cause an accident. Wait until you are comfortable with driving before you bring your pets along for a ride. Unlike people, pets don’t understand you need to concentrate on driving and are more apt to misbehave.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=”” seperator_1=”” ts_row_bg_effects=”” ts_row_bg_image=”” ts_row_bg_source=”full” ts_row_break_parents=”4″ ts_row_zindex=”0″ ts_row_min_height=”100″ ts_row_bg_position=”center” ts_row_bg_position_custom=”” ts_row_bg_size_standard=”cover” ts_row_bg_size_parallax=”cover” ts_row_bg_repeat=”no-repeat” seperator_2=”” ts_row_parallax_type=”up” ts_row_bg_alignment_v=”center” ts_row_bg_alignment_h=”center” ts_row_parallax_speed=”20″ seperator_3=”” ts_row_automove_speed=”75″ ts_row_automove_scroll=”true” ts_row_automove_align=”horizontal” ts_row_automove_path_h=”leftright” ts_row_automove_path_v=”topbottom” seperator_4=”” padding_top=”30″ padding_bottom=”30″ margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ single_color=”#ffffff” seperator_5=”” gradient_angle=”0″ gradient_color_start=”#cccccc” gradient_start_offset=”0″ gradient_color_end=”#cccccc” gradient_end_offset=”100″ seperator_6=”” video_youtube=”” video_background=”” video_mute=”true” video_loop=”false” video_start=”false” video_stop=”true” video_controls=”true” video_raster=”false” animation_view=”” css3animations_in=”” animation_scroll=”false” animation_speed=”2000″ el_file1=”” el_file2=””][vc_column width=”1/1″ seperator_1=”Viewport Animation” animation_view=”” css3animations_in=”” animation_scroll=”false” animation_speed=”2000″ el_file1=”” el_file2=””][vc_column_text]Once you are ready to drive with your pet in the car here are a few tips to ease the process and make it safer for you and your pet:
Long Walks Before the Trip With Your Pet
Dogs can have a lot of energy and some will get restless while riding in a car, so take your dog for a long walk before you go. It allows your dog to use the bathroom before and a long long will help tire the dog out. A tired dog is more likely to lay down and go to sleep in the car leading to less risk of a distraction for you.
Crates and Car Seats For Your Pet
Look on the market for crates and car seats that are suitable for the size of your pet. These units help to keep your pets restrained in the event of an accident. However, not all of these devices are made with the same strength. Some are not strong enough to keep your pet safe in the event of a serious accident. Make sure that you don’t choose a flimsy car seat or a crate that could easily open and release your pet. These types of restraints also help to keep your pet from distracting you while you are driving.
Remember, if you have any trouble with the pet’s restraint while you are driving to find a safe location to pull over and correct the problem. Do not attempt to fix it while you are driving.
Someone to Watch the Pet
Make sure to bring a passenger along, such as a parent, when you are driving with a pet. This way your parent will be able to take care of your pet if there are any issues and if you become distracted your parent can take over driving.
Windows and Airbags
When your pets are in the car, you need to put the child safety locks on. A pet could step on the window buttons, open the window and get stuck or fall out of the car. You also need to be careful about airbags. The strength of an airbag coming out could crush and kill an animal. Some people let their pets roam around the front seat, but the back seat does not pose the same threat with air bags. You should speak to your vet about the size of your pet and airbag safety.
Don’t Leave Pets in the Car
You might think that you’re just running in the store quickly, so you can leave your pet in the car. That is not true. Someone could break in and steal the pet. Also, even on a cool day the temperatures inside of a car can become unsafe for animals in a short period of time. Play it safe and don’t like your pet in the car alone.
Driving with your pet means that you can go different places together, but you need to keep these tips in mind to make the trip safer for you both. Most importantly do not drive with pets in the car when you first start driving; you need time to develop your driving skills without needless distractions.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Frequently asked questions
Should new drivers bring pets in the car?
New drivers should wait until they are fully comfortable behind the wheel before bringing pets along. A pet in the cabin is an extra distraction, and unlike a human passenger, an animal does not understand that the driver needs to concentrate. A dog can climb into the front seat, a cat can dart under the pedals, and any pet that escapes its restraint can cause a serious crash. Give yourself several months of solo driving experience first so handling the car is second nature, then introduce pets slowly with short, low-speed trips.
What is the safest way to restrain a dog in the car?
The two best options are a hard-sided crate secured in the cargo area or back seat, and a crash-tested harness that connects to the seat belt system. Look for products that have been independently crash-tested rather than the cheapest option on the shelf. A flimsy crate can pop open in a collision, and a thin harness can fail under load. The restraint protects your dog in a crash, prevents them from being thrown forward into passengers, and keeps them from climbing into your lap while you are driving. Always restrain pets in the back seat, never on the driver's lap.
Is it safe to let my dog ride in the front seat?
Front-seat pet travel is risky because of airbags. Passenger airbags deploy at high force and are calibrated for adult-sized humans. A deploying airbag can seriously injure or kill a dog, cat, or any small animal in the front seat. Children under 13 should ride in the back for the same reason. If your vehicle allows you to disable the passenger airbag, you can consider front-seat travel for medium and large dogs in a tested harness, but the back seat is always safer. Ask your veterinarian if you are unsure about the right setup for your pet's size.
Why should I tire my dog out before a long car ride?
A tired dog is far less likely to whine, pace, or climb around the cabin during a trip. Taking your dog on a long walk or a vigorous play session before you load up burns energy, lets them relieve themselves, and increases the chance they will lay down and sleep. That keeps you focused on the road instead of managing the pet. Cats benefit from a similar approach with a play session before they go in the carrier. For very long trips, plan rest stops every two to three hours so your dog can stretch and use the bathroom safely on a leash.
Why should I use child safety locks when driving with pets?
Pets can accidentally activate power window and door controls with a paw or a nose. A dog standing on a window switch can lower the glass and either jump out, fall out, or get its head stuck. Engaging the child safety locks on the rear doors and locking out the rear window controls from the driver's master switch prevents these accidents. It costs nothing and only takes a few seconds. Most modern vehicles have a button on the driver's door panel that disables all the rear window switches at once.
Why is it dangerous to leave a pet in a parked car?
Cars heat up fast, even on mild days. On a 70 degree day, the inside of a parked car can climb above 100 degrees in 20 minutes. On a 90 degree day, the cabin can pass 130 degrees in less than an hour. Cracking the windows does not meaningfully slow the temperature rise. Dogs and cats can suffer heatstroke, brain damage, or death in this environment. In cold weather, parked cars can drop to dangerous temperatures just as quickly. If your destination does not allow pets inside, leave them at home.
