Dogs in your car: the lethal weapons they can be for you and passengers

Published on 5 June, 2021

Overview

We are a nation of dog lovers.

I’ve been in awe during the long lockdown stints at the persistent devotion and attention people pay to their four-legged best friends.

We (collectively speaking; I don’t have a dog now) think nothing of scooping the poop, waiting patiently and diligently obeying the rules.

And yet we can put man’s best friend in the firing line when we carry them in our cars – not to mention the risk to other passengers on board.

I’m sure people mean well but giving a dog the freedom of your car’s cabin is looking for trouble.

It’s just plain illegal but judging by what I see, the law is being flouted on a regular basis.

There are several reasons not to carry a dog ‘loosely’ in your car.

The main one is that if you have to stop suddenly your unfettered pet goes from being a happy tail-wagging friend, to a lethal weapon slung at breakneck speed and thrust.

It can cause huge damage to others in the vehicle – not to mention the poor animal itself.

I don’t think people realise just how serious this phenomenon can be. They should have their pet securely cordoned off from the rest of the car to avoid such a scenario.

Even if you don’t have to brake suddenly there is danger. As I know from my younger days, even the best behaved and trained pets can suddenly decide they want to move to be beside you looking for a pat on the head. A dangerous distraction for the driver.

I raise the matter because I’m seeing a lot of loveable doggies with their heads out the side windows of passing cars. In other words they are unrestrained. They shouldn’t be. Be a proper dog lover and restrain your pet.