Central Collision Center: 12/30/12

January 2, 2013 marks the third annual National Pet Travel Safety Day. Founded by Celebrity Pet and Safety Expert, Behaviorist and former Los Angeles Paramedic Colleen Paige, National Pet Travel Safety Day raises awareness of the importance of pet safety in all modes of travel.

Pet safety while driving is not only critical for the animal, but also the driver. Unrestrained pets in cars is one of the top reasons for distracted driving. According to Paws to Click, unrestrained pets cause more than 30,000 accidents a year. An accident occurs every 18 minutes as a result of an unrestrained animal.

A 2010 survey by AAA and Kurgo asked 1,000 dog owners who had driven with their dogs in the last 12 months about their habits. The survey reported the percentage of dog owners who take their dogs:

On leisure rides: 88%
On local errands: 85%
To the pet store: 81%
On day trips: 80%

Of the 60% of dog owners who reported driving with distractions by their pets, only 17% reported using animal restraints or harnesses.

An unrestrained animal in the car can cause a driver to become distracted. There are three forms of distracted driving: visual, taking your eyes off the road; manual, taking your hands off of the steering wheel; and cognitive, taking your mind off of what you're doing. Looking away from the road for just two seconds doubles the risk of an accident, according to the AAA Foundation for Safety Traffic.

Here are some tips from The Humane Society of the United States to help you and your pet stay safe while driving together:

Update your pet's identification information on his/her collar before traveling
Identify a contact person to pick up your pet in case of an accident in case you are unable to leave the scene or become injured
Bring an up-to-date picture of your pet. If you are involved in an accident, your pet may become frightened and run away. Keep a picture on hand to help others locate your pet
Help your pet get use to traveling by beginning with short trips and gradually increasing time spent in the car
Place your pet in the back seat. Never travel with your pet in the front seat. If the front passenger side airbag deploys during an accident it could hurt your pet
Restrain your pet while driving. Dogs should be restrained using a harness that buckles into a seat belt. Place a blanket or towel under your dog to protect your interior. Cats should be restrained in a carrier so they don't bounce around. Secure the carrier with a seatbelt
Do not let your dog stick his or her head out the window while driving. The force of the air can injure the dog's lungs
Make frequent rest stops so your pet can stretch his/her legs
Never leave your pet in an unattended vehicle. A car can reach up to 102 degrees in just 10 minutes on a hot summer day. In the winter, a car can become and icebox, causing hypothermia

Many states are beginning to enforce laws regarding driving with animals. For example, New Jersey recently began issuing $250 to $1000 tickets for driving with loose pets in cars, which is a violation of an animal cruelty law. Other offenses include allowing pets to hang his/her head out the window, pets riding in the back of a truck or pets sitting on the driver's lap. Col. Frank Rizzo, Superintendent of the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, summed up the reasoning behind the new laws. "You wouldn't put your child in the car unrestrained so you shouldn't put your pet in the car unrestrained either."

For more information about pet travel safety, visit Paws to Click or The Humane Society of the United States.

Some of our furry friends at Central Collision Center: