Cooperative Living August 2023 - 22

PAWPRINTS
" To help keep our roads safe,
drivers need to minimize distractions.
That means our beloved pet passengers
should be restrained in the back seat. "
- Scott Smith, vice president and director of safety
management at Selective Insurance
Ruff ●●●●
Story courtesy of Statepoint Content
Dogs are not always safe in the car
A
recent poll found that dogs caused a majority of
drivers to be distracted on U.S. roadways. The study,
conducted online by The Harris Poll, found that
of those licensed drivers who recently drove with their dogs,
91% admitted to interacting with them while driving,
including interactions requiring the driver to take their hands
off the wheel or eyes off the road, and 48% acknowledged
that they are more distracted when their dog is in the vehicle
than when not.
" We love our dogs. However, some of their behaviors
in the car, such as sitting on drivers' laps, jumping between
seats, or sticking their heads out the window, divert drivers'
attention from operating a vehicle, " says Scott Smith, vice
president and director of safety management at Selective
Insurance. " To help keep our roads safe, drivers need to
minimize distractions. That means our beloved pet passengers
should be restrained in the back seat, and if they need tending,
drivers should first pull over to a safe place. "
Some of the more hazardous behaviors that drivers engaged
in while recently on the road with their dogs include giving
them food/treats/water (36%), taking a photo/video of their
dog (27%) or holding them in place (23%) while driving. In
addition, 40% of drivers who have ever driven with their dog
confessed to various reckless driving behaviors as a direct result
of having their dog in the vehicle, including swerving out of
the lane (11%) and hard braking (13%).
20 ● Cooperative Living ●
August 2023
As you head out with your dog on journeys near and far
this month and beyond, help minimize driving distractions
in your vehicle with these tips from Selective Insurance:
* Have your dog ride in the back seat and consider using
a partition between the front and back seats.
* Use a dog seatbelt, safety harness or anchored crate to
prevent distractions and provide your dog with some
protection if there is an accident. A significant 70% of
licensed drivers who recently drove with their dogs say their
dogs were unrestrained in the vehicle. Yet, 82% of drivers
who recently drove with their dogs agree that having an
unrestrained dog in a moving vehicle can distract the driver.
Not using a restraint is risky and could put you in violation
of the law. Some states have animal-restraint laws for vehicles
to help keep drivers safe and focused. However, only 24% of
licensed drivers who recently drove with their dogs say they
are very familiar with such laws in their state. That's compared
to 34% who say they didn't know these laws existed.
* Plan and identify rest stops along your route so you and your
dog can take a break. If you need to make an unplanned stop,
avoid the side of the road and instead look for a quiet parking
lot. Use these occasions to give your dog food, a little exercise
and most importantly in summer, plenty of water. 
co-opliving.com
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living August 2023

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