by Lara Latshaw
Warmer weather means more road trips with pets in the car — but pet car safety is a topic most people never think twice about. I didn’t think much about it either until I became a certified Pet Tech CPR/First Aid Instructor, where restraint safety for pets in vehicles is part of the curriculum. Before that training, the only time I crated dogs in the car was when I was hauling so many at once that crating was the only option.
The reality is that a pet should be in a crate or a seatbelt harness any time they’re riding in a car — for their safety and yours.
Why an Unrestrained Pet Is a Real Car Safety Risk
The most obvious danger is a crash: an unrestrained pet can become a projectile, thrown into or through a windshield. What most people don’t consider is that a pet flying through the cabin during an accident can seriously injure — or even kill — a person riding in the car, simply from the impact.
If you crate your pet in the car, the crate itself needs to be secured too. An unsecured crate can become its own projectile in a crash, turning into an additional hazard for anyone in the vehicle rather than the protection it’s meant to be.
An unrestrained pet is also a risk while you’re still driving, not just in a crash — a dog or cat that ends up near the pedals puts the driver in a genuinely dangerous position, with the driver unable to safely brake or steer.
What Happens After an Accident
It isn’t a paramedic’s job to contain a loose pet. When pets are unrestrained, they’re often let out of the car as soon as first responders arrive so responders can reach the injured. A frightened pet loose at an accident scene can also become protective and interfere with first responders trying to help — while a secured pet is far more likely to be looked after properly once the human victims have been cared for.
Other Everyday Risks
- Head out the window: It looks fun, but at minimum a dog risks getting debris in the eye — and more seriously, dogs have been known to jump from moving vehicles.
- Bolting at a stop: An unrestrained pet can dart out an open door directly into traffic the moment you stop the car.
Simply put: keeping your pet secured is one of the simplest things you can do to keep them — and everyone else in the car — safe.
Recommended Products for Pet Car Safety
- Seatbelt harness: The AKC 2-in-1 Seatbelt Harness is a solid option, though there are many good manufacturers to choose from.
- Seatbelt attachment: Gordon’s Grooming carries Clix attachments in our Retail Department — they connect to a pet’s harness or collar and snap directly into your car’s existing seatbelts.
- Crates: If you prefer crating, Impact Crates and Ruff Crates are considered among the best available for car travel.
FAQ
Do pets really need to be restrained in the car?
Yes. An unrestrained pet can become a projectile in a crash, injure passengers on impact, or interfere with first responders after an accident.
Is a harness or a crate better for car travel?
Both work well as long as they’re used correctly — a seatbelt-rated harness for pets riding loose in the cabin, or a secured (not loose) crate.
Where can I get a seatbelt attachment for my dog’s harness?
Gordon’s Grooming carries Clix seatbelt attachments in our Retail Department.
