A new survey of British Columbians reveals that while travelling with pets is common, many drivers are putting themselves, their passengers, and their animals at risk by not properly securing their pets in vehicles.
According to a new ICBC survey, more than half (57%) of BC drivers say they’ve travelled with a pet in the past year. Among those who do, only about one-third (36%) say they always secure their pet, while nearly two-thirds (64%) say they do not always use restraints.
Among drivers who drive with a pet in their vehicle, 12% say their pet rides on a passenger’s lap, while 2% even say their pet sometimes sits on the driver’s lap while driving.
The survey also found that among drivers who don’t always secure their pets, approximately one-third (34%) think it is not dangerous to drive with an unrestrained pet.
“For many of us, pets are part of the family, and we want them with us wherever we go,” said Kathleen Nadalin, ICBC road safety manager. “But an unrestrained pet can be a serious distraction and a safety risk in a crash. Taking a few simple steps to secure your pet properly can help protect everyone in the vehicle.”
The ICBC has offered the following safety tips for travelling with pets:
- Always secure your pet.
- Keep pets in the back seat or cargo area.
- Plan ahead to reduce distractions.
- Keep heads and paws inside the vehicle. Letting pets stick their heads out the window can lead to eye injuries or debris strikes.
- Transport pets safely in trucks. It’s illegal and unsafe to have an unsecured animal in the back of a pickup truck.
- Never leave a pet unattended in a vehicle. Temperatures inside a parked car can rise rapidly, even on mild days.
