All Dogs go to Heaven, But You Don’t Want Yours There Yet

Car Safety Measures for Pets

It’s summer, and for many families that means long trips and a lot of time in the car. If you’re driving with your pet, make sure you take the necessary safety precautions or your animal and your family could be in danger.

If you allow your pet – most likely a dog – to move about the cabin of your car, you risk not only its safety but also the safety of yourself, your passengers, and other drivers on the road. About 31% of all drivers have been distracted by a dog on their lap, according to a recent study compiled by the American Automobile Association and Kurgo, a maker of pet harnesses. Your pet can prove a distraction and cause you to have an accident.

Flying dog: Not as cool as it sounds

In the event of an accident, an animal can prove even more dangerous.  An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a vehicle moving at 50 mph, for example, will exert roughly 500 pounds of force during a crash, according to the AAA study. Unrestrained dogs literally can become flying projectiles capable of fatally injuring themselves, your passengers, and you.

Buckle them up; it’s the law in some states

Hawaii has made driving with an unrestrained dog illegal, and other states are following suit. Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, and New Jersey all issue fines from $250-$1,000 to drivers with their dogs on their laps. Dogs have been deemed too much of a distraction to drivers when allowed to roam.

Restraints save their lives and yours

There are a variety of restraint types to fit different cars and pets. Prices for them range from $20 to $200. Car safety measures for pets include:

• Car Barrier: Either rigid (metal or plastic) or soft, a barrier blocks off a section of your car for your dog. Barriers are designed to prevent driver distraction by restraining your pet’s movement, but many times they can be flimsy. They may not prevent injury to your animal in the event of a crash or prevent it from being tossed into another part of the cabin
• Safety Harness: A safety harness, like a human seatbelt, is designed to both restrain your pet and absorb the shock generated by a crash. Unlike seatbelts, however, harnesses weren’t  fully tested until recently, and they have failed for both safety and restraint. In March 2013, Subaru announced a partner study with the Center for Pet Safety in order to determine the safest mode of pet restraint for animals and humans alike.
• Canine Car Seat: A car seat, in combination with a safety harness, provides extra safety and comfort for your pet. It acts as a kind of modified dog bed with soft walls, providing padding in the event of a crash.
• Crate or Carrier: Crates and kennels can attach to your car’s seatbelts. This option is better for cats because they are usually smaller than dogs and have a greater need to be fully restrained. These options best restrict your animals’ movement and might prove safer for them as well.

Protection your best friend deserves

The average veterinarian charge for an animal hit by a vehicle is $1,450, according to Petplan Pet Insurance. Bills might not be as staggering for animals hurt inside a car, but the treatment cost can still be high. If you want to help protect your pet, you can look into insurance that will cover it in an auto accident. Options include:

• Car insurance coverage that includes a pet allowance: Coverage for your pet is sometimes provided in your auto insurance collision coverage. However, this coverage is limited and only applies when the pet is in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Pet Insurance: Pet insurance works like human health insurance and typically covers illness and injury, including those that occur outside the vehicle. It is offered by many main insurance providers as well as specialized independent providers.

Source: AutoInsurance