Diana Myers
An estimated 80 percent of dogs in cars are unsecured. Find out here why it is so important to secure the dog in the car and which security systems are available for this.
Just as people are required to wear seatbelts or a hands-free system when making phone calls in the car is a road safety regulation, so is securing loads. The legislator also considers dogs as such, so proper security of the four-legged friend is mandatory.
Unsecured dog as a road hazard
But it is not just a question of money, an unsecured dog also poses a great danger to itself and other vehicle occupants:
- Even with a strong evasive or braking maneuver, an unsecured dog in the car significantly increases the risk of injury for humans and dogs.
- In an impact of 50 km/h, a dog would fly through the interior with thirty times its body weight. A 20 kg animal would hit the ground with a load of more than half a ton. This is life-threatening.
- For example, an unsecured dog can run into the steering wheel or distract the driver and cause an accident.
- In the event of an accident, a shocked or injured dog that is free to roam inside the vehicle can interfere with rescuers’ work.
Dog owners should therefore always secure their dogs when driving, even over short distances! Holding the dog on your lap is not an option: in the event of an accident, the person is buckled up, but the dog flies into the windshield.
How is the dog secured in the car?
There are several ways to secure dogs in cars.
Pet crate
Plastic transport boxes offer a lot of security for little money. They are best placed in the footwell or in the trunk, although they must also be secured in the trunk with straps so that the dog is not thrown around with the box in the event of an impact. The transport boxes are also available in metal. They offer even greater protection in the event of an accident.
Fabric pockets with Isofix system
Fabric bags with the Isofix system offer good protection for dogs, as long as they are attached correctly. The right side of the bag is also important.
Seat belt
Car harnesses and belts are the basic requirements for securing dogs without a box. The stable and padded belts are connected to the car with the Isofix system, for example. So the dog can neither slide forward nor to the side. When buying crockery, pay attention to the following points:
- fully sewn eyelets
- stable hooks made of steel or aluminium
- good fit (try on the dog before buying)
- do not use collars, use harnesses with double attachment!
Rear seat barriers
Rear seat barriers alone are not sufficient to secure dogs in cars and are only suitable as an add-on. The dog must always be secured by a box or harness. While the rear seat barrier prevents the dog from being thrown forward, it can still hit the door panels and injure itself.
Trunk divider
Similar to rear-seat barriers, trunk dividers are not the only security measure. The dog in the trunk must also be secured with a box or belt.
Lattice boxes for the trunk
Lattice boxes for the trunk are a practical solution for securing dogs. It is important that the boxes are not too big so that the dogs are not thrown around inside the box. The crate should provide the dog with space to lie down but not to roam about. In addition, the box must be additionally fastened if it does not fill the entire trunk.