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Dogs In Cars….Am I Legal?
According to USwitch, 69% of us travel with our pets in the car and many of these will not be legally safe.
Failure to keep your dogs restrained violates rule 57 of the Highway Code which reads, “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. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.”
You would be liable for a fine anywhere from a £100 on the spot penalty up to £5000 if it ends up in court.
- A fine for you of up to £5000
- Invalid insurance leading to HUGE liability costs
- Dogs potential of serious injury from flying debris, falling from the vehicle or sudden deceleration trauma.
And that’s not the worst of it!. Gocompare.com warns that drivers who don’t restrain dogs and cats while on the move are not just breaking the law, they could also be invalidating their car insurance.
That means if you’re in an accident, you could be made to pay for any damage to your car AND any other cars involved, not to mention any medical or other costs resulting – something that could easily add up to a five-figure bill. We all love to see dogs enjoying the breeze, tongue lolling and ears flapping, but is it really worth the cost?
All for the cost of a seat belt harness clip for less than £5, for example.
Other alternatives for safe travel include;
