Car and dog: tips for more safety
A dog in the passenger seat, ears fluttering in the wind at the open window? That's not a good idea. The German Automobile Club (ADAC) has shown why with dummy dogs during test drives. Various test drives with an - unsecured dog dummy showed that the risks are great in every place in the vehicle. On the passenger seat [...]
Various test drives with an - unsecured dog dummy showed that the risks are great in every place in the vehicle.
Placed on the passenger seat, a dog is in danger of flying off the passenger seat onto the driver's lap during an evasive maneuver and getting its head wedged between the steering wheel and the driver's thigh. In the worst case, the car becomes uncontrollable. In real road traffic, a serious accident would have been the hardly avoidable consequence.
Danger when swerving and braking
An unsecured dog on the back seat, on the other hand, puts the animal itself at considerable risk, because it will hit both doors in a sudden evasive maneuver.
If the dog is lying unsecured in the trunk, the risk of injury to the occupants is lower because the dog is usually restrained by the backrest of the rear seat. However, it will also be harmed here if it bangs against the side walls or the backrest during a sudden evasive or braking maneuver.
Injured dogs can be aggressive
Securing the animal is also crucial for rescue and recovery after an accident: An unsecured dog that is injured in a car accident can become a serious danger for first responders. This is because four-legged friends are often traumatized and aggressive after an accident. This can delay the rescue of all accident victims because the animal must first be brought under control.
Car harnesses secure the transport
For examiners, car harnesses are the basic requirement for safe transport. Boxes for the trunk, however, are the better solution. It is important that the size ratio between box and dog is correct and that the box is fastened to the lashing eyes with tension straps.
Dog owners often choose a larger box to give their four-legged friend more freedom of movement. However, this can lead to the animal being thrown around in the box and thus being injured.
Small dogs sit in the basket correctly
Especially for small dogs, special baskets are a good solution. The basket is attached to the back seat with a vehicle belt.
However, it is important that an additional securing system is used, such as a stable chest strap for the animal. Even safer is the accommodation in an appropriate box behind the passenger seat.
