Do you drive safely with your dog?

Do you drive with your dog? Mostly likely, your answer is yes! 🐶🚘

A recent survey from Selective Insurance found that 89% of licensed drivers who owned a dog have driven with their dog in the last year. 65% drove with their dog at least once a week.

Follow up question: do you drive SAFELY with your dog? Really think about it…

91% of the drivers in this survey admitted to interacting with their dog while driving. So, if you’re a dog owner, you’re most likely driving with and interacting with your dog while on the road.

Consider these additional findings from the survey:

• 50% pet their dog while driving.
• 36% gave them food, water, or a treat.
• 33% turned around to look at them in the back seat!
• 40% admitted to demonstrating reckless driving behaviors like hard braking, swerving, or not using turn signals due to being distracted by their dog.
• 17% even had their dog sitting in their lap while driving.

It can be easy to forget your best driving practices when you are distracted by your sweet pup. But, it is not impossible!

Try implementing these safe driving tips when you’re driving with your pet:

• Have your dog ride in the back seat or, if appropriate, your trunk.
• Try using a partition to separate the front seat from the back seats.
• Consider a dog seatbelt, safety harness, or anchored crate for your dog.
• If you have to pull over for your dog, don’t go to the shoulder of the road. Instead, search for a quiet parking lot.