Unrestrained pets become projectiles in an auto accident, experts warn
While only a few states currently enforce legislation prohibiting the practice, several automobile and pet safety advocacy groups have begun a campaign to discourage drivers from leaving their pets unrestrained in a moving automobile. One in five of the pet owners surveyed in a recent study conducted by the American Automobile Association reported driving with a dog sitting in their laps, and one in three drivers reported being distracted by their dog while attempting to drive. In an accident, unrestrained animals can become living projectiles, dangerous to themselves and other occupants in the car. The state of Hawaii has passed legislation specifically forbidding motorists from driving while holding an animal in their laps, and Rhode Island’s house of representatives is currently considering legislation that would classify operating a moving motor vehicle while holding a pet as distracted driving. State law in New Jersey authorizes agents employed by the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to pull over motorists for improperly transporting animals and issue citations costing drivers between $250 and $1,000. In extreme cases, motorists can be charged with animal cruelty. Arizona, Maine, and Connecticut meanwhile, allow law enforcement officers to cite motorists for unrestrained animals under the distracted driving laws already in place. Safety restraints designed to keep pets safely positioned in a motor vehicle are available at pet stores and from online distributors.
