Whether you are simply driving to the shops for a few kilometres or going on a road trip across the country, chances are you will take your dog with you at some stage. Whereas safety features and measures for humans are widely discussed, there still appears to be a lack of knowledge when it comes to the importance and the different car safety features for dogs. We have listed a few reasons why it’s important to safely secure your dog when going on a trip in the car
Distractions can lead to accidents
You need to keep your eyes on the road to ensure a safe journey for everyone involved, meaning everyone in the car, as well as outside of the car. You wouldn’t want your enthusiastic dog suddenly jumping on your lap whilst you’re driving down a busy road. By ensuring your pet is safely restrained, you can focus on the road, whilst your companion safely enjoys the ride.
But there is another important reason to ensure your companion is strapped in.
Animals are just as fragile as we are in the event of a crash. They could be catapulted through the windshield or get stuck in the foothold upon an unexpected impact with catastrophic results. Always make sure that they are either in a guard, a crate, or a harness to ensure a safe journey.
Managing the impact
It is widely known that, when speaking about a car crash, most people die from the "third impact," meaning that they don’t die from the car hitting the wall or their body hitting the steering wheel, but rather because the organs hit the ribcage. That is where the real impact and resulting damage happens, and it’s exactly the same for animals. By ensuring they are safely strapped in, you at least help to minimize the possible impact of a crash. So always take that into account when shopping for safety products. For instance, a crate or divider for is great for ensuring your pet can’t distract you whilst driving and it will prevent your companion from being ejected through the windshield, but it won’t prevent them from being flung back and forth inside the crate.
Aftermath
After a crash, dogs become panicked and might try to jump out of the window or an open door. They might try to flee the scene and could either run into oncoming traffic or run too far and get lost. By ensuring they can’t get out of the car, you increase the chance of getting them to safety. Moreover, emergency services can sometimes be hindered or delayed because a dog might want to help their human companion and won’t let the emergency staff get close.
There are many different ways of making sure your companion stays safe and there are many different products on the market today. But always make sure they are quality tested. Take a look at the video for more information on car safety for dogs through this video by an organization in the UK that explains both the necessity and requirements of dog safety features