Driving With An Unrestrained Dog In The UK Could Lead To A Fine

Taking your dog along for a drive might seem like a perfectly normal thing to do. Most people don’t even think twice about letting their dogs hop in the back and lay down on the backseats. But this might mean you are unknowingly breaking the law.

For example, in the UK, driving with an unrestrained dog in the car might earn you a £5,000 fine. According to the Highway Code, “When in a vehicle, make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained”. The code motivates this decision by stating that dogs might distract you while you are driving, or injure you or themselves. They suggest a seat belt harness, pet carrier, or cage as suitable ways to restrain animals.

When you think about it, this makes sense. You wouldn’t drive without a seat belt on, so why would your dog be safe if unrestrained? A simple break might send your pet right through the windshield. If you want to make sure that they stay safe at all times, find a way to restrain them while on the road. This way, every passenger stays out of harm’s way, and you will avoid getting fined or getting a driving ban.

If these reasons aren’t enough to convince you that restraining your pet during drives is the best way to go, maybe the way this could affect your car insurance will. If you are involved in an accident while you have an unrestrained pet in the car, you can risk invalidating your insurance. Even if the accident was due to the pet being unrestrained or not, it will go on your record and insurers might use it against you.

To make sure your beloved pet is safe and you don’t get fined or risk getting in conflicts with insurance companies, make sure you restrain your dog from now on.