Dog owners across the UK are risking hefty fines by failing to ensure their pets are secured safely when travelling in the car this Summer. Statistics collected by dog travel solutions experts “Travall” has revealed that nearly a third of dogs aren’t travelling safely in cars and in just over half of cases the owner has risked a fine of up to £5000 for violating section 57 of the highway code.
This states that dogs must be restrained when travelling in a car and yet over a fifth of those surveyed were unaware of this regulation. There are an estimated 13 million pet dogs in the UK. The research collected reveals somewhere in the region of two million pet dogs could be travelling in danger risking themselves and the lives of their fellow passengers.
The data shows that 13% of dogs are travelling in a seatbelt attached to their collar, risking choking and spinal injuries if the car had to brake suddenly or was involved in an accident. 16% of owners polled are travelling with their dog loose in the boot, unrestrained on a seat, moving around the vehicle and, in some cases, sitting on the driver’s lap.
Even more worryingly, nearly a third of those surveyed said they have been distracted by their dog when driving. 36% said their dog had distracted them by barking, 23% of canine companions have travelled with their head out of the window and 13% said their dog had jumped around the vehicle when they were trying to drive.
If a driver is distracted for what ever reason by their pets, this can have disastrous consequences for themselves and all other motorists on the road. While only 4% of those surveyed admitted having an accident due to the behaviour of a dog in their car, just under a third of those who took part said they have had to take their eyes off the road to help manage their dog and 16% have had to brake suddenly. In many cases this has been an accident waiting to happen in fact 9% of those polled said they have nearly had a crash due to their unruly pup.
Founder of Training Dog® Lorenzo Barichella says, “As a dog behaviour specialist, I often see dogs that become overexcited, anxious or restless in the car because they have never been taught that travelling can be calm and predictable. Looking out of the windows, pacing around the vehicle or jumping between seats may seem harmless, but these behaviours can increase arousal and create unnecessary stress for both the dog and the driver. Travelling safely isn’t just about preventing injuries. It’s about creating an environment where dogs can feel calm, secure and confident, allowing them to enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
“Many inexpensive restraints and seat belt attachments give owners a false sense of security. When travelling with children, we don’t rely on a seat belt alone. We use a dedicated, safety-tested child seat designed to protect them. I believe our dogs deserve the same consideration. A properly secured crate isn’t just a way to restrain a dog, it’s a safe space that protects their physical and emotional wellbeing and helps them travel calmly and confidently”.
According to Oliver Lee, CEO at Travall, “Restraining your dog in the car is the minimum requirement in law. Safety experts estimate that at 50 km/h an unrestrained 30 kg dog generates up to 750kg of force on impact – this can kill both an unrestrained dog and passengers in the unfortunate event of a crash. The gold standard to keep your dog safe in the car is a crash tested dog crate which is secured safely in the boot space”.
Travall has created a new dog crate which is TUV SUD certified and helps to ensure your best friend is safe and comfortable when travelling in the car with you. This has been tested at 50 km/h with forces up to 25x the dog’s bodyweight and only passes if the dog remains inside the crate, the door does not open and the structure does not fail. Testing even includes the worst-case scenario that the rear seats have been folded down.
