Driving Under the Influence of Dogs is as Dangerous as Texting

For many dogs, "Wanna go for a ride?" is right up there with "Want a cookie?" when it comes to phrases that make ears perk and tails wag. In fact, a recent study by AAA found that 80 percent of drivers bring their pets along for car rides. But it turns out that dogs aren't the best co-pilots, after all.

When you pet your dog, or give him a treat, or play with  him while driving, your attention isn't on the road. Just like making call or texting, when you look away from the road for only 2 seconds, you double the odds that you'll be in a crash. And, according to the study, two-thirds of dog owners routinely pet or play with their pups while driving, and one in five let their dogs sit in their lap.

Driving with your dog ranked a close third behind phone calls and texting in AAA's study, but Thomas Conroy, retired police chief and nationally recognized K-9 trainer, says it's worse. "The driver has control over the keyboard, but does not have control over a loose animal." You can choose when to dial your phone or send a text, but it's not up to you when an unrestrained dog leaps into your lap.

Thirty states, Washington, D.C. and Guam all have laws that ban texting while driving, and several others have restrictions on cell phone use in the car. In the 2008, Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have hit drivers with a fine for sharing the driver's seat with a pet and a handful of states have restrictions on pets riding in open areas, like the bed of a pickup truck. Yet there's not a single statewide law requiring pets to be restrained while riding inside a vehicle. Perhaps the most comprehensive driving distraction law is currently on the table in Trussville, Alabama, which would prohibit texting, interacting with pets, reading, eating and personal grooming while driving.

Earlier this month, the South Dakota state Supreme Court ruled that a woman with 15 cats loose in her car posed a "significant safety risk to the public." That's an extreme case, but it only takes one animal to get under the pedals, block your view or distract you at the wrong moment.

Here's the other reason why loose dogs are more dangerous than cell phones. If you crash going 50 miles per hour with a phone in your hand, maybe you'll be out a phone. But if it's the same scenario with a 10-pound dog loose in your car, that dog becomes a projectile equal to 500 pounds of pressure. That means serious injury potential for your dog, your car and you.

So, how do you keep everyone safe without having to leave your dog at home? There are all kinds of car-safety products on the market to help you comfortably restrain your four-legged companion, including canine seatbelt harnesses, car seats, barriers and crates.

While we're at it, here are a few other safety tips for pets and cars:

• Never, ever leave your pet in the car on a hot day, not even for a quick errand. Leaving your pet in the car any time of year could make him a target for theft, but in the summer, heat stroke is fast and deadly; when it's 80 degrees Fahrenheit outside, it only takes ten minutes for the temperature inside your car to hit 99 degrees and for your dog's system to start shutting down.
• Don't make your dog ride in the back of a pickup truck. It's easy for him to jump out or get struck by debris. If there's some really good reason why your dog can't be in the cab and can't stay at home, then a well-secured crate is the safest option.
• Don't let your dog ride with his head out of the window. No matter how much he likes to smell the breeze and feel the wind whipping in his ears, this is one of the most distracting, view-blocking places for your dog to be. Also, your dog can get dirt in his sensitive eyes and ears, get hit with flying debris, and you might be surprised by how small of an opening he can leap through when tempted.

This isn't the end of dog-friendly travel, but it's worth taking the extra steps to make sure everyone gets there in one piece. And there's a good chance that, down the road, restraining pets in vehicles will be the law.

Photo credit: ocbeejay