Pet Passenger Safety

Saturday, July 23rd, 2011 - 6:38 pm - Travel Articles

Drivers with pet passengers report distractions
Some 46 million U.S. households are home to 78 million dogs, estimates the American Pet Products Association. As more drivers take along their furry family members on road trips, day trips and even local errands, the potential for crashes increases with the incidence of risky behaviors. Some of these behaviors were identified in a recent survey by AAA and Kurgo, a leading pet travel product manufacturer.

Interacting with pets
The 56 percent of respondents who have driven with their dog at least once a month in the past year reported participating in behaviors that take their attention away from the road and their hands away from the steering wheel. These include petting the dog and using hands or arms to restrain the dog while breaking or prevent the dog from climbing into the front seat. Others say they have reached into the back seat to interact with their dog, hold or allow their dog to sit on their lap, offer their pet food or treats or even snap a photo. Looking away from the road for only two seconds doubles your risk of being in a crash, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Not using a pet restraint
A full 83 percent of respondents acknowledge that an unrestrained dog in a moving car can be dangerous, but only 16 percent currently use a pet restraint. Use is three times greater among drivers who have heard of situations where unrestrained dogs were injured or caused injury to other passengers.

An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert roughly 300 pounds of pressure, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert approximately 2,400 pounds of pressure. Imagine the devastation that can cause to your pet and anyone in its path, said Huebner-Davidson. Drivers should use a pet restraint system for your dog every time their pet is in the vehicle, said Jennifer Huebner-Davidson, AAA National, Traffic Safety Programs manager. There have been many recent innovations in the pet restraint market from Kurgo and others to make these products more comfortable for the dog and convenient to use for the owner.

Find the complete report at AAA.com/news.

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