Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Survey Finds Unrestrained Pets Distract Drivers

According a new study conducted by AAA, pets
could be as large of a disturbance to drivers as
mobile phone usage is. With all the new laws
prohibiting driving while texting or speaking on
a cell phone without a hands-free device, it begs
the question: will unrestrained pets riding in
vehicles soon be illegal?

The AAA study found that 80 per cent of dog
owners admitted to bringing them along for rides
in their vehicle, but less than 25 per cent of
those drivers kept their pets restrained. As
many as eight states, Connecticut, New Hampshire,
Oregon, Rhode Island, California, Massachusetts,
Nevada and Washington, have laws on record
requiring drivers to secure their pets, but only
if the pet is in an open area of the vehicle
(i.e., the back of a pickup truck).

The common thread with these laws is that they
all exclude the cabin of the vehicle, where the
driver and pet share a common space. Currently,
the laws on record are intended to safeguard the
pets, not the driver of the vehicle, the drivers
of surrounding vehicles, or either of their
passengers. As proof of this point, here is an
excerpt from Connecticut's "Laws on Securing
Animals Being Transported in a Vehicle" that
states the law's intention as to "prevent [the
animal] from being thrown, falling, or jumping
from the truck." The maximum fine for this
offense is $50.

The reason many pundits feel that new laws are
around the corner is the distraction level these
unsecured pets provide. The same AAA study found
that 31% of dog owners admitted that their dogs
are a distraction on the highway. Even more, 59%
admitted that their dog had been a distraction at
least once previously. And this distraction in
not entirely the pet's fault: 50% of drivers said
they pet their dogs while driving, 20% drive with
their dogs in their lap, 7% say they feed their
dog while driving, and 5% cop to playing with
their dog while behind the wheel.

It is not only driver distraction that lawmakers
fear. The injuries an unrestrained pet could
impart is typically much worse then the general
public believes. AAA reports that even a
10-pound dog can exert 500 pounds of pressure if
it is loose in a 50 mph crash. That number is
for a small dog, even more troubling is the force
a large dog can cause in a wreck. Lloyd P.
Albert, AAA Southern New England senior vice
president of public and government affairs,
claims that, "...an unrestrained 80-pound dog in
a crash at only 30 mph will exert 2,400 pounds of
pressure. "

An upcoming vote in Alabama could usher in a new
era of driving with pet laws, as a town there
looks to pass an ordinance banning interaction
with pets while driving. A similar bill was
vetoed in California back in 2008 notes a local
California personal injury attorney.

No matter what laws are passed regarding pets and
driving, Lloyd P. Albert wants you to consider
your pet's impact on those around it.
"Restraining your pet when driving can not only
help protect your pet, but you and other
passengers in your vehicle as well," Albert says,
"Imagine the devastation that can cause to your
pet and to anyone in its path."

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For nearly 30 years, Steinberg & Spencer Injury
Lawyers of Southern California, have been helping
injury victims and their families with their
legal cases. Speak with a California personal
injury attorney or a California brain injury
attorney to discuss your legal case today. Visit
http://www.steinbergspencer.com/ to receive your
free case evaluation.

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