Driving with Pets Should be Done with Caution…

We all know that limiting distractions is one of the primary components of successful defensive driving. It only makes sense that it’s important to avoid doing anything that potentially takes the focus away from the road and the other cars sharing it. This is why there are now regulations in place limiting the use of cell phones in the car. Something that has the potential of being distracting in the car that many drivers don’t give a lot of thought to is driving with pets.

For pet owners, particularly those with dogs, it’s common for that pet to be a passenger in a vehicle. Often times, maybe even most of the time, this doesn’t pose much of an issue. But pets, much like children (another potentially distracting type of passenger), can be unpredictable. It’s not feasible to suggest that people never drive with their pets in the car, but it should be something that’s done when necessary rather than at all times.

Even if you think you’re just running a quick errand, it’s been said that most accidents happen within just a few miles of the home. This means that a quick trip with a dog riding along has an even greater risk of ending poorly. Just like with all things in the car, if a pet that is riding along becomes distracting, you should pull over and deal with the situation rather than try to resolve it while actually driving. Once your focus turns away from driving and towards trying to calm down a dog in the backseat that has been worked up, there’s a greater chance for an accident.