As Easter weekend approaches, many of us are looking forward to spending quality time with family and friends and some of us are looking to take our furry friends away with us. But a short break with loved ones and pets could end up being incredibly expensive, if you unintentionally overlook the law about driving with an animal in your car.
The Highway Code states that dogs or any other animals in a vehicle must be "suitably restrained so they cannot distract while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly". The Code, which is shared on the UK Government website here, lists seat belt harnesses, pet carriers, dog cages and dog guards as suitable ways of restraining pets in a car.
According to research by Confused.com, the insurance comparison site, 19% of motorists take their pet with them in their vehicle at least once per week. Of these, 25% of drivers plan on taking their pet on their next trip on the backseat of their vehicle without any form of restraint, whilst 18% of motorists said they'd put their dog or other pet in the passenger footwell, and a further 18% said the animal would travel in a bed or blanket in the car. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Read more: New Highway Code rules mean you could face a fine for using a mobile as a passenger
But any motorist who does not adequately restrain their pet before travelling with them puts themselves at risk of a fine of up to £5,000 - and points on their driving licence. This is because not adequately restraining your pet means they could distract you, leading you to drive "without due care and attention," and potentially "allowing your standard of motoring to fall below that of a prudent motorist," reports driving advice site DrivingBan. Plus, if you don't restrain your pet, they could potentially be injured if you have to brake your vehicle suddenly or if you're in a collision. Read here about the call to ban pugs and French bulldogs.
Car insurance expert at Confused.com, Alex Kindred, added: "Pet restraints are a legal requirement and are important for the safety of all road users. To put it simply, if you’re distracted by your pet when driving, you could be responsible for causing a serious accident. And if your pet is found to be unrestrained, this could result in points on your licence or fines of up to £5,000. Read here about how you could invalidate your insurance without even knowing.
"Our research found that almost 1 in 6 (16%) of motorists don’t think unrestrained pets can invalidate insurance, but this is untrue. Insurers are unlikely to approve your claim if they find you’ve been driving carelessly. To ensure you’re compliant with the Highway Code, you can travel best with your pets by: using a pet restraint or seat belt, using a cage/carrier, or using a safety guard in the boot of your car. All of these methods are legal and the safest way of travelling with your pet."
