The £7 item that could save you from a £2,500 fine – and keep your pet safe on the road
BRITISH motorists risk severe penalties if they let their pets roam freely around their car.
But a simple £7 item could keep dog owners on the right side of the law - and keep their pet safe on the road.
Basic seat belt harnesses are available for dogs of all sizes, and will only cost you the same amount as your daily lunchtime trip to the high street.
They fit comfortably around your pup, with a large loop to feed your seat belt through.
You then buckle the seat belt as normal, allowing your dog to sit on the back seat without having them wandering around the cabin.
Drivers face a whopping £2,500 fine and risk having their car insurance invalidated if they don't buckle up their pets.
Top tips for driving with your dog
- Never leave your pet alone in the car, especially on hot days
- Don’t feed your pet within a few hours of starting a car journey, so they can avoid car sickness
- Bring lots of water with you in case your pet overheats and needs to cool down
- Bring their favourite toy or blanket along
- Restrain your animal properly when driving with a seatbelt, dog guard or crate and make sure you test them to find the best one for your pet
Rule 57 of the Highway Code states: "When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly.
"A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars."
And while disobeying the Highway Code doesn't carry a direct penalty, drivers could be pulled over by police and charged with failing to drive with due care and attention which carries the harsh fine and up to nine penalty points.
If you're in an accident and your pet isn't restrained, an insurer is likely to refuse to pay out, leaving you with a sizeable damage repair bill for the crash.
Halfords has reported a recent 500 per cent jump in the number of motorists buying dog harnesses, with summer weather urging more Brits to take their dogs out on the road.
Their simple restraints will mean you don't have to worry about major penalties, and know that your furry friend will have a level of protection if you have a crash.
And if your pooch doesn't like a regular harness, there are plenty of other restraint options available.
Guardrails or crates can also be bought to fit your motor, with plenty to suit dogs of all shapes and sizes.
The road laws you need to know
David Howells, Halfords pet travel expert, said: “It’s perfectly normal to want to take your four-legged friend with you when you’re going away.
"Driving with them is sometimes a necessity, so making sure they are safe and restrained is essential for their safety and health.
"Like their human counterparts, many dogs can suffer from car sickness and can spook easily, so make sure you help keep them and yourself safe by belting them up in the car when driving.
"If you don't do this and your dog roams free around the vehicle, then an insurance company might also not pay out on a claim.”