Car Safety
What not to do (Photo by Andrew Pons on Unsplash)
Let me introduce you to one of my pets.. pet peeves that is! Unrestrained dogs in cars.
Consider that airbags go off explosively (see screenshots with highlights below, or watch this airbag explode in majestic slow motion) and can be fatal for non-human-shaped passengers. Even on the back seat, rapid deceleration can turn your dog can into a dangerous projectile. Plus, it’s the law! (§ 22 of StVO)
Source: ABCnews4
Source: The Globe and Mail
Ok ok, I get it! What can I do?
If you own a car, consider setting up something permanent. If you have a suitable trunk, set up a crash tested crate, or install a separator. The German term is “Gepäckraumgitter”. It should conform to ECE R17, ECE R 126 or DIN 75410-2r (source).
Warning! Air conditioning doesn’t necessarily reach your dog. You can be in front, chilling with the AC blasting in your face while your dog could be silently dying from heat stroke in the back of the car. Even if you think it’s not that hot out, periodically check on your dog, even if the AC is working in the front of the car.
On dogs hanging their heads out the window: Don’t!
Ever had a tiny bit of gravel damage your windshield? Now imagine a bit of high velocity debris hitting your dogs eyes/nose/mouth. What if you drive too close to tree branches, or another car passes closely? Not to mention an unrestrained dog could even jump out the window. Get window guards if you want to have the windows open.
From a private FB group, shared with permission.
What if I don’t own a car?
My dog wearing her Kleinmetall ALLSAFE
Harnesses can make it uncomfortable for dogs to lower their heads- I like to bunch up some fabric as a headrest.
Then you need a crash tested car safety harness. The Center for Pet Safety has independently crash tested harnesses. You can listen to a podcast about their testing here. In short, the harnesses from Sleepypod and the German manufacturer Kleinmetall did well. There may be newer testing when you read this so do check the CPS site.
Note: If there’s enough tether for your dog to come off the back seat and slam into the front seat, this negates the harness’s protection for the dog. Instead, thread the seatbelt directly through the back of the harness.
On the left: with the included tether. On the right: the same harness, only the seatbelt is fed through the back of the harness. Now Imagine where the front seat would be.
Source: Center For Pet Safety
What if I need to use the passenger seat?
In addition to a crash tested restraint, you can turn off the passenger side airbag and slide the seat back. I couldn’t verify this advice with any crash tests, so, I’m basing this on stories of airbags killing and injuring dogs. And of course, as always: Don’t let your dog distract you from driving.
What if I have a tiny dog?
Dog too small for a harness? There are crash tested carriers that can be strapped in with the seat belt. For instance, the Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed (CPS crash tested) and the AirPupSaver (see crash-test video), of which DogJaunt has a helpful review. I don’t have experience with these products, and it looks like you’ll have to do some hunting/importing to get them on this side of the Atlantic, but that’s what I’d do if I had a smaller dog.