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The danger of pet distraction while driving

On Behalf of | Apr 13, 2021 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

Many pet owners in Pennsylvania find themselves bringing their furry friends along with them as they explore the adventures that summertime has to offer. Unfortunately, this can lead to an increase in the number of traffic accidents that happen.

Dogs can lead to driving distractions

Anyone who has traveled with a dog in the car knows that pets can be an unsuspecting distraction. Car accidents can happen when a driver takes their attention away from the roadway or takes their hands off the wheel to grab their pup. According to a study of pet owners who admitted to traveling with their dogs in the car, 52% of them admitted to taking their attention off the roadway to attend to their canine friend.

About 23% of these individuals said they used their arms to hold their dog in place when they came to a stop, and 19% said they used their hands to keep their dog in their back seat while driving. About 17% of those surveyed admitted to allowing their dog to ride in their laps. Lastly, 3% of those surveyed said they took selfies with their canine companion while behind the wheel. When assessing just how dangerous these maneuvers are as they take attention and hands off the steering wheel, it becomes all too clear why accidents happen.

How to minimize distractions from your dog while driving

The best thing that you can do to ensure your dog doesn’t distract you while behind the wheel is to strap them in. There are many pet restraint systems on the market that allow you to safely keep your pup in a favorable position while you drive. This eliminates the need to take your hands off the steering wheel to contain your pup.

Dogs can be very distracting when their owners are driving. It’s a good idea to always have a pet in a restraint system to ensure that they are not overly distracting the driver. If you’ve been injured in an accident due to another driver being distracted by their pet, you may want to seek assistance from an attorney to help with your case.