How To Travel With A Dog In A Car Safely

Here at Safe in the Seat, we talk almost exclusively about how to travel safely with your family! Often, that means discussing car seat safety, responsible driving, and emergency preparation. But, there’s one family member we don’t frequently talk about, the family pet!

Many families travel regularly with their pets, whether heading to a dog-friendly park for the afternoon or going on an extended family vacation. As you’re riding with your furry friend, you may ask yourself: “Is this really safe?” and that’s a great question. The truth is, the way most people travel with their pets is unsafe.

So, today we’re going to discuss how to safely travel by car with your pet! We’ll explain what the potential risks are and what steps you can take to ensure everyone's safe from your spouse, to your kids, to your fur babies. 

How To Travel With A Dog In A Car Safely 

When discussing riding in a vehicle with a dog or other pet, you probably considered things like how to protect your car seats and what rest stops would be best for potty breaks. However, there are also big risks when it comes to riding with pets in the car!

In the event of a collision, anything loose in your vehicle can become a dangerous projectile, threatening other passengers in your car (even if they’re restrained!) A dog or other pet, whether big or small, could become one of these dangerous projectiles in a crash. Then, all riders, including your pets, are at a huge increased risk of suffering serious injury or death in a crash. This is exactly why it’s important you ensure everyone is properly buckled and vehicle contents are properly contained. 

Distracted driving is another issue caused by riding with dogs or other pets. Even well-trained pets may be distracting if they are bouncing around the vehicle or jumping into your lap. When you’re distracted while driving, you often lose the ability to drive defensively and make good decisions. It’s no surprise distracted driving causes over 3,000 traffic deaths a year. 

So, when we consider how to ride safely with pets, we need to ensure the animals are not a projectile or distraction risk. Plus, you need to keep your pet’s personal comfort and safety in mind, too. 

Here’s how to travel with a dog in your car safely:

Use a proper restraint system. 

Just like with a human passenger, you should contain your pets in a safety and crash tested restraint system. Yes, there are lots of pet-safe restraint systems available to keep your furry friend safe, much like a seat belt would. Of course, these restraint systems should always go in the back seats of the vehicle. In the front seat, they could still be a distraction even with a proper restraint system. 

You can find a full list of crash-tested pet-friendly restraint systems from the Center of Pet Safety, but here are the four main types to choose from:

• Pet Car Seat (not certified by the Center of Pet Safety, but made by Nuna)
• Safety Harness
• Pet Carrier 
• Pet Travel Crates

Take steps to reduce anxiety and keep them comfortable. 

Some pets love a moving vehicle . . . some hate it! Have your pet practice riding on short trips to get them used to the process, but also take steps to help reduce anxiety! Doing things like providing treats and water or offering a favorite toy can be a game changer in preventing your dog from freaking out on the way to your destination!

Plan pit stops every 2-3 hours. 

It’s a good idea for everyone in the car to take a break every couple of hours to get fresh air, use the restroom, and stretch their legs. The same goes for dogs! Plan stops strategically along your route to give your furry friend a break! And, of course, don’t forget to clean-up after your dog if you stop at rest stops or other public spaces! 

Never leave your pet in your vehicle. 

Don’t ever leave your dog unattended in your vehicle. It may not seem like a big deal, but your dog’s separation anxiety could spike, causing them to become a danger to themselves or, at the very least, your car’s interior. But more than that, temperatures inside the vehicle can quickly become dangerous for pets especially if it’s hot. So, wherever you go, let your dog go, too!

Ensure they always have their identification tags. 

Double check your dog or pet is wearing an identification tag before leaving the house. If your furry friend does run off and get lost at your destination or at a stop along the way, a phone number and address on the collar can greatly help in bringing them back to you!

Look into local laws regarding pet restraint. 

Believe it or not, there are a few laws pertaining to riding with your dog in your vehicle! So, before you take off, research the states you’ll be passing through and ensure you’re abiding by their specific pet passenger laws, if they have any! 

Are There Laws For Traveling With Pets In a Car?

As we said, yes! There are a few states with laws for traveling with pets in a car. New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Hawaii all require a restraint system like a harness or crate. Other states like California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Washington only have laws pertaining to your pet being in the back of a truck, in which case these states require the dog be restrained or crated in some way as well. 

All the other states? No specific laws on traveling with pets in a car! However, some states do have distracted driving laws. Usually, those pertain to cell phones and other handheld devices, but there are definitely ways some of those laws could apply to any form of distracted driving including your pet! 

Don’t worry too much about these laws, because as long as you’re traveling safely and your dog is properly secured in their restraint system, you’re in the clear! 

Keep your whole family safe by keeping everyone in the proper restraint systems! 

You never want to compromise on the safety of your family your pet included! That means when you ride with your pet, it’s your responsibility to maintain their safety using a crash-tested restraint system. For more on keeping everyone in your family safe in their seats, check out our Instagram and blog! Let’s make the roads safer one buckled up furry friend at a time! 

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Want more help or insight? Here’s more on how to ride safely with your pet. If you have specific questions, you can also book a consult with our car seat experts! We’re usually more focused on helping you with child restraint systems, but we’re committed to giving you peace of mind on every ride by offering personalized assistance, thorough instructions, and well-researched tips. So, we’ll be happy to answer your pet-related vehicle safety questions, too! Keep your family safe with the Safe in the Seat team!

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