Sure, Rachel Bilson, Vanessa Minnillo, and Britney do it all the time, but driving with your pets isn't exactly safe.
The Desert Sun reports that there's a bill in the state legislature aimed at pet owners who let their animals creep into the driver's seat.
Assembly Bill 2233 would fine drivers $35 if they are caught driving with an animal on their lap.
The assemblyman who introduced the bill claims that "in an accident in which the car is traveling 30 mph, an untethered, 60-pound dog can cause an impact of 2,700 pounds." Maze also quotes public and private data that "designates pets as among the worst in-car driving distractions, along with eating and cell phone use."
Do you think this is true? Do you let your puppy or kitty ride shotgun with you?
Warehouse
Diego Dolcini
theOutnet
They actually wouldn't be the first state to have some kind of pet car safety law. In some other states you can get fined (as a secondary offense) if you dog is not properly restrained in a car. Now a proper restraint is pretty loose as those back seat hammocks count.
Personally, I'm terrified of getting into an accident with the dogs in the car. If I'm hurt, what's going to happen to them??? So my dogs have their own car seat and seat belts. They love it! It keeps them high enough so they can see out the window. We're even buying a bigger car so that when we have children the dogs don't have to sacrifice their car seat.
1I agree.
Years ago, a woman I knew brought her new puppy to the school I worked at to show everyone. It was a small puppy that she could carry with one arm. As she was leaving in her car she pulled out in front of someone and then slid into the ditch (winter-time in Michigan) and her puppy was crushed to death between her and the car door. I can never forget that story and am always worried about dogs in the car.
I recently bought a dog car seat and harness and I feel much more at ease driving around with Lulu. I don't have to worry about her crawling around, getting by my feet, or jumping out the window.
2http://teamsugar.com/group/1109694/reviews/1555326
Woot woot, pass that bill!
3I do think it's unsafe but who let's a 60 lbs dog on their lap while their driving? Sorry but their example kind of made me laugh. I really want to get a good car seat for B-Bop, but they're so freaking expensive. I have an old one, but it's hard and he hates it. Guess I better start saving my pennies!
4Wow Flames! That is so sad!
5I totally agree with this bill! You wouldn't put your baby in your lap while driving*...why do it with another living creature??
*exceptions: Britney Spears- who's just INSANE!
6When I see people do this, I think it's so silly and dangerous.
I took a defensive driving class once where the instructor cited a similar stat to the 2700 lbs impact in the post.... he explained that it's why children are required to be in car seats and cannot just be held by an adult, since the impact would be so powerful (even at low speeds) that a parent's strength could not compete against the force and the child would be flung through the windshield. Same goes for pups...
So, I got my doggie a car harness. She looks silly, but now I'm not paranoid!
7I just put mine in the back seat, but I wouldn't be opposed to a law that made me get car seats for them. I'm definitely against dogs riding up front, for the same reasons kids aren't supposed to.
8I think it's a good law. Dogs can be such a distraction, and God forbid mine got hurt while I'm driving!
9Wow. We never even considered letting Ladybird run around the car while we're driving - she is either in my arms as a passenger or in her kennel. After reading this, I'll probably always put her in the kennel for car rides, and put it in the backseat.
And as for the 60 lb dog running around the car and on the driver's lap? My sister does that with her 80 lb lab. Not very smart...
10I've actually been rear-ended by some little old lady that was letting her dog jump around in her lap. I watched the whole thing in my rear-view mirror. yay for this!
11I agree with the bill as well!
12GOOD!! i have heard horror stories about accidents where pets weren't restrained...and were injured or killed when a simple seat belt/harness would have saved them. My dog means WAY too much to me to risk it. Even though he is not at all interested in jumping around or even looking out the window (he much prefers snoozing in the back seat) he always wears a harness and is buckled in.
13I have a Shiba Inu who is about 24 lbs and he loves to sit in the car seat with me when we go on short car rides. I keep him in the passenger seat and he moves over to the car seat. I think that he is uncomfortable in the seat next to me. I have been wanting to get him a harness to keep him safe in the car. Does anyone have suggestions for a good harness or car seat for my dog?
14I've been using this with my pup: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2755199.
15I think driving around with anything live and squirming on your lap is definitely a distraction, especially a little dog that could jump up on the dashboard/steering wheel and block your view, or get between you and the pedals. I drive around with my *mostly* well behaved Doberman in the back seat...even then, she's so tall that she can block the rear view mirror so I have to be more vigilant. Having a pet anywhere in the front would be out of the question for me.
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