Many dogs enjoy going for a ride in the car. We’ve all seen them, head out the window, tongue flapping in the breeze! So cute! But, is it safe? How much thought do you give to the way your dog rides in the car? While no one is suggesting that you buckle Rover into a seatbelt (although such devices are available!) a new bill has been passed in California making it illegal to drive with a pet on your lap!
“If you have an animal that gets in your face or gets tangled up in your steering wheel when you’re driving, you can’t properly control (the car),” says Califronia Assembly Member Bill Maze, who proposed the bill. The bill prohibits drivers from “holding a live animal in his or her arm or arms or upon his or her lap.”
Both houses of the California legislature have passed the bill. After minor tweaking, it heads to Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk. The governor has not yet stated his position on the bill.
I prefer for the dogs to ride in crates in the car. It’s so much safer for everyone.
There are some crash test videos showing what happens to dogs left loose or even using seat belts in an accident. Very scary.
One of our early trainers told us about getting in a rollover accident, while driving a bunch of dogs to a dog show. All were crated. All were fine.
Good suggestion Roxanne. While my dogs don’t ride in crates (they ride in the back of my SUV), I never let them stick their heads out of the window. Bugs can hit the dogs in the eyes causing severe damage. Think about it – how does your windshield look after bug collisions?
Thanks Roxanne and Marley’s Mom. I’m glad your dogs are safe when they ride. Not only is riding in the lap of the driver unsafe….just today I was thinking about dogs riding on the lap of a passenger in the front seat. What if the airbag should be deployed? They come out with such force, it would be disastrous.