Ahead of the Easter long weekend tomorrow, many drivers could be travelling with pets in the car.
Drivers with dogs in car must obey ‘three rules' or face £5,000 fine ‘if caught', according to warnings. Ahead of the Easter long weekend tomorrow, many drivers could be travelling with pets in the car.
Rhydian Jones, Confused.com car insurance expert comments: “The long bank holiday weekend is the perfect chance to head out on a day trip or staycation to visit friends and family. And with pets a beloved part of the family for millions of drivers, it's likely that they will be a popular passenger this coming weekend.”
Rhydian added: “When travelling, the safety of your pet is just as important as others in the vehicle. It's a legal requirement for drivers to use a pet restraint”. And the Highway Code says that drivers should follow THREE rules.
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Remember to “use a pet restraint or seat belt, use a cage/carrier or use a safety guard in the boot of your car”. Mr Jones said: “If caught driving with an unrestrained pet, drivers could be face points on their licence and invalidate their car insurance.
“And if caught driving dangerously, they could face fines up to £5,000. That's why if drivers are travelling with pets over the bank holiday, they should ensure they have the right precautions in place.
“Our guide to driving safely with a dog in the car will keep you prepared ahead of the long weekend.” Replying to the warning, one driver fumed: “I don't even agree on the law for seatbelts with humans!
“Not opposed to them being fitted in every vehicle, not opposed to anybody using them through choice. Do remember my mum telling me she was in a terrible accident when a car came though red lights and hit her side on, she sasn't wearing a seat belt, if she had, she would have been squashed.
“There is an argument for every side but I think it should be a personal choice. Crash helmets the same for motorbikers, I knew a guy in a really bad crash, he wore a helmet, he survived but not as the guy he was!”
“You mean traffic officers doing their jobs? Unless your dog is bouncing around the car like a pinball, how is anyone going to know it's not restrained. How many people do you know have been fined for this?” another said.
A third said: “Dogs in cars always remind me of a story from my chikdhood. Years ago, back in the '60s, my father loaned his car to a workmate to go and get something from the shops.
“But he'd forgotten that our dog was in the car and just as his colleague was pulling out into the road, the dog, who'd been fast asleep on the back seat, suddenly jumped up, put her paws on his shoulders, and licked his ear. He told my father afterwards that it was a miracle that a) he hadn't crashed the car, or b) had a heart attack.”
