Travelling in a car can be distressing for your four-legged friend, or have the opposite effect where a dog can become so excitable that they become a distraction to the driver.

Within the UK, the Highway Code states that: “When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly.”

Why do you need to restrain your pet whilst driving?

Dogs can become overly excited, bouncing between seats and jumping onto your lap whilst driving. This takes your concentration away from the road, where even the smallest distraction could lead to a fatal crash.

Heavy breaking or the risk of crashing creates momentum that forces objects forward. An unrestrained pet in such a scenario would likely impact against, or be thrown through a windscreen, causing severe injuries to the animal and possibly to you.

Dogs LOVE to stick their head out of an open window whilst driving. They have an incredible sense of smell (between 10,000 to 100,000 times greater than humans), so all the interesting new scents zipping by is like having a smell buffet. Without being restrained, there’s the risk that a dog may jump out of a moving vehicle, or whilst the vehicle is stationary out of curiosity or excitement.

Some car insurance policies require you to declare if travelling with a pet. These policies include the clause for restraining whilst driving. Some pet insurance policies may also be invalidated if your pet is injured without a suitable car restraint.

Restraining your pet

You can ensure that you are compliant with UK laws by restraining your pet with a suitable seat belt harness, such as the Petface Car Seatbelt Clip that connects to almost every car belt fastener, whilst the other end uses a universal euro hook to clip onto your dog’s harness.

Be sure to select a suitable harness that ensures comfort and doesn’t slip. There are also dedicated safety harnesses and booster seats on the market.

You may choose to use a crate or a dog guard for dogs that are distressed when restrained with a belt harness. Whilst both are compliant, there is still the risk that your pet may be injured in a crash, as both are often designed to protect the occupants of the car unless crash tested for dogs.