Tips to keep pet-related distraction at a minimum while driving

Photo: Emerson Peters/Unsplash

by Kim Salerno
TripsWithPets

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Summer is a season of travel. More people hit the road during the warmer months, whether to visit friends and family, explore new places, or go on outdoor adventures. And the good news is, many summer travelers are bringing their pets along. But are pet parents taking enough precautions to keep everyone in their car safe?

The perils of distracted driving

We often think nothing of adjusting our GPS system, changing our music, or petting our furry passenger while we drive, but the implications of taking our eyes off the road, our hands off the wheel, or our minds off of driving, can be very serious. According to the Center for Disease Control, or CDC, distracted driving and a failure to pay attention to road and traffic conditions cause 25 to 30 percent of police-reported traffic crashes, which add up to roughly 1.2 million crashes each year. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Administration, or NHTSA, notes that roughly 20 percent of car accident injuries involve distracted driving.

Distracted driving and pets

Distracted driving is of most concern in summer, when it typically reaches its peak as more younger drivers take to the road, and more people in general take the opportunity to travel, explore, or visit family. Traveling with pets compounds this concern, as unrestrained pets can both cause distractions and make accidents more dangerous.

“Pets can easily take a driver’s attention from the road, posing a serious risk not only to the pet but also to the passengers riding in the same vehicle,” says Michael Leung, co-founder and lead product designer of Sleepypod, a manufacturer of premium pet carriers and pet restraint systems. “If there is nothing restraining a pet in a hard stop or car accident, the pet can become a projectile and potentially collide with fellow pets or human passengers.”

Such a collision could be catastrophic, regardless of a pet’s size. A 10-pound dog in a 50-mile-an-hour car crash exerts 500 pounds of force. Meanwhile, an 80-pound dog in a 30-mile-per-hour crash exerts 2,400 pounds of force.

Unrestrained pets may also fall or jump out of open windows or flee the car in fear after a crash, potentially becoming lost, injured, or worse.

Keeping pets safe with restraints

A quality, rigorously tested pet restraint can make all the difference in preventing distracted driving and keeping human and pet passengers safe during an accident. Interestingly, an American Automobile Association (AAA) survey found that, while more than 80 percent of drivers admitted that they recognize the dangers of driving with an unrestrained pet, only 16 percent used pet restraints.

“Hopefully, you’ll never have to put a car restraint for your pet to the test,” says Michael, “But taking an extra minute to properly secure a pet before heading on the road for summer adventures could offer peace of mind and reassurance.”

Best practices for pet restraint

Michael spearheaded Sleepypod’s rigorous advanced crash-testing program, which includes a large and growing family of crash test dummy dogs and cats featuring sensors and monitors that measure car crash and pet restraint data. In addition, he and his research and development team gather real-life accident data through Sleepypod’s Crash Replacement Program, which offers customers who have used a pet safety restraint while in an accident replacement pet restraints or discounts on new pet restraints.

Michael offers the following tips for minimizing pet-related distractions and keeping pets safe during accidents:

Pets should always be restrained in a back seat to prevent them from injury if an airbag is deployed.

If you cannot restrain your pet with a reputable, tested car restraint, the next safest option is to place your pet in the footwell behind the front seat.

Smaller pets are safer when fully contained in a restrained carrier, while larger dogs should ride in a car safety harness that does not connect the pet with an extension tether.

Pets should be unable to slide forward far enough to “submarine,” or drop off the seat, at any point during a collision.

Securing pets is the best way to ensure you and your pets have happy, distraction-free travels during summer, and all year round.

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Kim Salerno is CEO/Founder for TripsWithPets, Inc. TripsWithPets is a leader in the pet travel industry – providing online reservations at pet-friendly hotels across the United States and Canada.

5 ways to celebrate with the holidays and keep your family pet safe

NAPSI - Most pet parents agree: their animals are part of what makes the holiday season so magical. While it’s an excellent opportunity to integrate furry family members into all the special holiday traditions and make memories together, there are a few things you should keep in mind to keep your pet safe and healthy throughout the festivities: 

• Opt for pet-friendly decorations: Many favorite holiday decorations need to be kept out of pets’ reach. Mistletoe, pine needles, ivy garland, holly, lilies and poinsettias can be toxic to pets when consumed. This is why I recommend artificial Christmas trees to those with particularly curious pets that like to chew on plants. If you don’t choose an artificial tree, it’s important to note that some water additives for real trees can be toxic, so you should make sure your pet can’t access this water source. When decorating your tree, it’s best to avoid tinsel and breakable ornaments to prevent potential hazards, and you should always secure your tree to prevent a climbing cat from tipping it over.

• Keep pets warm and dry: As the weather gets colder, pets may need a few extra layers to stay comfortable and safe while outdoors. Booties can help prevent a pup’s paws from getting ice in them and offer protection from salt-treated walkways. At home, use pet-safe ice melt rather than salt, which can be irritating to pets’ paws, mouths and stomachs. You can keep them feeling warm and looking stylish on winter adventures with sweaters and jackets such as the Reddy Black Puffer and the Reddy Colorblock Dog Sweater. A cozy handwarmer lead will help keep you warm as well while you’re out and about. When you return home, always dry off their coats and paws to remove debris and ice clumps in fur and between paw pads.

• Choose and wrap gifts wisely: If you’re one of the nearly 80% of pet parents who, according to the 2022 Petco consumer survey of 1,000 U.S. dog and cat parents, plan to include pets in holiday gifting, make sure pets only have access to and open presents while supervised so they don’t ingest any paper or tape. I recommend sticking to wrapping paper for pet gifts, as ribbons, bows and accessories can be dangerous when ingested. Whether you’re buying advent calendars, apparel or toys for your pet, Petco’s holiday stockings offer an easy and pet-safe “wrapping” option that you can use year after year. 

Photo by Erik Mclean/Unsplash

• Be aware of toxic holiday foods: Common holiday foods such as chocolate, turkey skin and bones, ham, grapes and raisins, garlic, caffeine, alcohol, onions, certain spices and sweets, especially any containing xylitol, should be avoided. For festive pet-safe foods, Petco has a variety of sweet and savory dog treats just for the holidays. If you think your pet has accidentally ingested a toxic food or other material, contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline immediately. 

• Prioritize pet health and wellness: Involving pets in holiday traditions can mean taking them along for a road trip, introducing them to new people or staying in unfamiliar environments—all things that can cause anxiety in pets. It’s important to keep your pet’s mental health top of mind during the holiday season and year-round. When possible, pets should be introduced to new people and pets in a neutral environment, individually and at their own pace. For pets that experience anxiety in the car, practicing with short drives or sitting in the car while parked, followed by treats and positive reinforcement, can help the adjustment and prepare them for a long ride. Calming products can help mitigate anxiety in pets, and you can also consult your veterinarian for anxiety or motion sickness treatments to help make travel easier. Training in advance of any holiday plans is also a good idea, and Petco offers both in-person and online training options at stores.petco.com/training.

For additional tips on how to safely celebrate the holidays with your pets, visit petco.com/holiday and a Petco pet care center.

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Dr. Miller is the chief veterinarian at Petco, The Health + Wellness Co. and member of the Petco Pet Wellness Council. She received her DVM and MBA degrees from Colorado State University and has been board certified in Preventive Medicine since 2018.