DRIVING WITH DOGS

Keep your fur babies and human passengers safe with this travel knowhow

- Which Car staff

Do you own a dog who loves car rides? Unlike cats or goldfish, pups generally enjoy hitting the road with their human companions, but if you’re not prepared, driving with your pet can turn into quite an ordeal.

If you’re guilty of letting your pooch roam free in your car, be aware that in the case of an accident or sudden braking, your furry friend can turn into a missile and end up flying out of the car through the windscreen, or hitting and injuring a passenger.

Each state in Australia has its own set of rules and regulations, so be sure to look up any laws of states you’re travelling through. As a general rule, pets should be kept away from the driver to avoid distraction, and appropriately restrained to prevent them leaving the vehicle.

RULES & REGULATIONS

The following rules are a general guide to keep your pet, passengers and yourself safe when taking to the road.

• Drivers cannot drive with pets on their lap.

• Pets should be kept in an appropriate area of the vehicle – the rear seat of a passenger car, behind a cargo barrier in a wagon or SUV, or tethered or caged if on the back of a ute.