How many of you are guilty of this? Millions of Americans drive with a dog on their lap or unsecured in a passenger vehicle.
A new survey from AAA finds that one in five respondents admit to the distracted driving practice. Thirty-one percent of the 1,000 drivers surveyed admit to being distracted with Fido on their lap and more than half say they pet their dog while driving.
While about 80 percent of us drive our dogs to the park, grocery store, or take them on road trips, only 17 percent admit they use any form of restraint such as doggie seat belts to help protect the pet.
This survey sounds as though it was sponsored by Kurgo, a pet restraint system manufacturer.
According to a news release from AAA, “An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at 50 mph will exert roughly 500 pounds of pressure, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert 2,400 pounds of pressure. Imagine the devastation that can cause to your pet and anyone in the vehicle in its path.”
AAA advises to use a pet restraint system even when taking your pet on a trip close to home. The automobile organization provides a book Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook.
Online, Kurgo.com sells pet restraint equipment such as the Backseat Barrier, Skybox Booster Seat, Wander Bowl, Wander Hammock, Tru-Fit Smart Harness, and the Auto Zip Line, named as a Consumers Digest Best Buy.
Jacksonville auto accident attorneys see the end result of distracted driving related crashes on a regular basis and hope that all Floridians will be safe and pay attention to the road.
