Why Your Pets Should Never Ride Loose in the Car
If your pet is loose in the car, they might do something unpredictable or extra adorable — and that can be a big problem. When “you see someone in the driver’s seat with a small dog on their lap, that is obviously such a big distraction and such a big risk factor for causing a crash,” said Molly Racette, a veterinarian and professor of emergency and critical care at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Distracted driving contributed to 13% of all car crashes in 2023 (the most recent federal data available) and led to 3,275 deaths. Some of these stats are related to cell phones, car controls, and other issues. But I mention them because it’s all too easy to become absorbed in whatever cuteness or wacky mischief your furry co-pilot may be getting up to in the car.
If you were to get into a crash, or even if you had to stop short, an unrestrained pet could go flying. And a pet can turn into a little cannonball, which could potentially cause harm to them, to you, and to other passengers. “The safest thing is going to be for the dog to be in a crate because then they won’t become a projectile if there is a crash,” said Becca Bell, national program project manager at Canine Companions, which raises and trains service dogs.
Airbags can also injure your best little friend, so pets shouldn’t ride shotgun, either, even if you do have them in a carrier, according to Racette.
I personally tested 15 options for our soft-sided-carriers guide, and I found a handful that can work for both car and air travel. And some carriers, such as the Sleepypod Air, have even been crash-tested.
For larger, hard-sided car kennels, the versatile RuffLand Kennel comes in multiple door configurations to fit your car’s layout. The inflatable Diggs Enventur is another great option because it can be deflated to make room in your car when your dog isn’t riding with you. (But only the small size of the Enventur has been crash-tested.)
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