Pets are a part of our families but they can make driving a hazard. 8% of pet owners admit to driving with dogs on their laps. Anyone with a dog knows that the car isn’t always their favorite place and they rarely stay still. This can be a hazard for both you, your pet, and others on the road. Every time you take your eyes off driving you risk having an accident. The pet advocacy group Bark Buckle UP notes that in a 35-mile-per-hour accident, an unrestrained 60-pound dog would carry the force of a 2,700-pound projectile. Unrestrained dogs and cats can impede rescue workers in more serious accidents, and they also are more likely to be harmed or even thrown from a vehicle in minor fender benders.

There are ways to keep your pet safe in the car. Now no one is suggesting measures as extreme as an infant car seat for a dog.

but there are ways of securing your pet, like this like buying a bed that buckles to the seat with a harness to keep them safe.  You can put a crate in your car to keep them restrained!

For larger dogs there are other options. The Humane Society of the United States notes that dogs don’t have to be locked up in a carrier while in the car to keep them safe. If a dog enjoys the ride, the Humane Society suggests a restraining harness that can be purchased from a pet store.
There are some states like California & Hawaii that are considering imposing fines for unrestrained bets in cars. Keep yourself, others and our pets safe!