- 1 in 5 dog owners breaking rules when it comes to driving
- Findings from new Subaru study
- National Walk Your Dog Day is Feb 22nd
- Dogs should be ‘suitably restrained’ even when travelling in boot
- 20% not using dog guards or cages
- 80% dog owners choose their car with their pooch in mind
- Subaru’s cars are PERFECT for dog owners - check out the leasing range here
A fifth of UK dog owners are falling foul of the law by misunderstanding the rules around driving with pets, according to a new survey from Subaru.
The stats have been revealed ahead of this weekend’s National Walk Your Dog Day on Feb 22nd.
What are the UK rules for driving with a dog in your car?
Perhaps confusingly, there’s no specific legislation governing driving with your dog.
But the Highway Code advises that you need to make sure ‘animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly’.
It also adds: “A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.”
The Highway Code isn’t a law in itself, but it’s backed by specific legislation.
In this case, the Highway Code guidance about four-legged friends is protected by the Road Traffic Act 1988 (not being in proper control of a vehicle) and the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which protects against any ‘unnecessary suffering’ to your pet.
So, if you’re travelling with your dog in the boot and you don’t have a guard to stop your pet from jumping into the back seats - or if it’s not in a dedicated boot cage - you could be falling foul of the law.
Yet the new Subaru poll of 2,000 dog owners suggests 1 in 5 people are doing just that, or they’re failing to secure their pet with a tethered harness when travelling in the cabin.
Subaru tells us: “The contravention of these laws can lead to a £5,000 fine and can invalidate a driver’s car insurance - something that a third of dog owners surveyed were not aware of.”
What else did the Subaru dog study tell us?
The Subaru survey also concluded that 80% of dog owners make car buying or leasing decisions with their pet at the forefront of their minds.
Yet only 20% had tried out a car with their dog before buying.
Which is why Subaru is now inviting customers to test drive cars with their dog.
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Lorraine Bishton, Managing Director of Subaru UK & Ireland, said: “We’re pleased to launch our initiative, inviting potential customers from around the UK to visit retailers, and try out Subaru’s model range with a four-legged friend in tow. We’re looking to empower people to make more informed car-buying decisions, helping them to find a vehicle that works for them and their pet.”
Subaru offers plenty of cars that are suitable for dog owners, from the Outback estate and Forester SUV to the slightly more compact Crosstrek.
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Essential advice for car travel with dogs
Last year, Select Car Leasing interviewed a panel of experts to come up with a definitive guide for travelling in a car with your dog.
It covers everything from ensuring your dog harnesses and cages are crash-tested, to ways in which you can put the brakes on canine anxiety.
Make sure you read that report.
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