One third of dogs travel unrestrained in the car

Dogs must be properly restrained in the car on any journey. However, 1 in 3 drivers admits they do not do so.

All dog owners know their pet is already one more member of the family, so it accompanies us on our summer holidays and is the first to jump out of the car when we reach our destination. Although no one would ever think of taking one of their children without their seatbelt fastened, something different happens with dogs, since many travel poorly restrained in the car.

According to a survey carried out by Ford, 32% of drivers have admitted that they have travelled with their dog in the car without taking any safety measures. Keeping your furry companion buckled up is already a legal requirement in the vast majority of countries, including Spain.

On any journey, dogs must be kept properly restrained

This decision has been taken bearing in mind that positioning them correctly is not only beneficial for their safety, but also for that of the other occupants of the car and even other drivers. In the event that a car suffers an impact at a speed of 40 km/h, a loose dog can be thrown forward with a force of up to 40 times its own weight.

Of those surveyed, 32% said they did not do so because their pet did not like it, 31% claimed it was not necessary if the journey was short, and 14% said they had no space to fit a dog cage.

What is worrying is that 1 in 4 of those who said they had travelled with their dog unprotected also admitted that their pet had even stuck its head out of the window. Even more worrying are the accounts of some of the interviewees, who said their pet had jumped out of the window and was seriously injured or even died.

Other owners admitted to having been involved in an accident after their pets distracted them. Among them, some said the dogs had switched on the indicators, had obstructed their view and had even bitten one of the occupants. Furthermore, an interesting fact is that insurance companies may refuse to cover an accident if there was an improperly restrained pet inside the cabin.

Ford has found the solution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCu5xb2Qeqk&feature=youtu.be

For this reason, René Berns, an engineer at Ford, set to work to devise the perfect way to transport a dog in the car. As can be seen in the video, like everyone who has put their dog in the car, placing the dog in the cabin is not a good idea. It may be our only option if we fill the boot to the top, but we may regret it when we spend two weeks removing hair from the seats and mats.

Berns focused on making a dog cage completely fitted to the boot of a Ford Focus Sportbreak. The advantage of the idea coming from an engineer at the brand itself is that it has been designed specifically for this model, making the most of the 608 litres of boot space in the estate version of the brand’s compact car. As a result, the cage is able to accommodate an Irish Wolfhound, the tallest dog breed in the world.

Whenever there is space in the boot, it is highly recommended to carry your pet in a crate designed for this purpose: safety is much greater, the occupants and your pet will be more comfortable, and you will avoid scares caused by distractions. If you want to know more, don’t miss our tips on how to travel with pets in the car.