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More dangerous while driving: Dogs or cell phones?

Posted on 05. Nov, 2009 by admin in Dog Travels, Top Stories

STAFF REPORT
NoDogNo.com

The thousands of auto accidents in Texas every year cannot all be caused by cell phones, text messages and drunken drivers. In fact, one of the most frequent cause of a fender bender–life threatening or not–is a distracted driver. And, let’s face facts, your dog may pose a greater distraction than your buzzing wireless gadgets.

To be sure, statistically, more accidents have been caused by cell phones and text messages than caravaning with canines. But perhaps this has more to do with the prevailance of cell phones. Just about every single car on the road has a driver with a cell phone.  Much fewer people drive with their dogs on board.

Studies, like those already conducted on drivers using cell phones,  may be needed to determine just how distracted drivers can become with dogs riding shotgun. But don’t expect legislators to wait for the results.

Already, at least one state legislator has proposed increasing fines any time you get caught committing a moving violation while “interacting” with your pet. Given that your car doesn’t have a black box or camera installed, who’s to know what “interaction” took place in the moments before an accident? Just having a loose pet on board would almost certainly condemn you to a heftier fine.

Obviously, the solution is to restrain your pets with either a traveling crate or seatbelt.

Even if dog lovers who have well-behave pets who would never create a distraction on the road, they should consider what could happen after an accident, perhaps one caused by another driver applying makeup or eating a burger behind the wheel. Even the most well-behaved dog could be thrown about the cabin, injured, or flee the car into traffic after the impact where another injury or accident could occur. Dogs have even been so scared after an accident that their threatening groals and teeth have prevented paramedics from approaching injured passengers.

Buckling up seems like a simple option for a responsible pet owner–and there’s reason to do so before it becomes a state law.

What do you think?

Tags: accident, animals, Brownsville, crash, crashes, danger, distraction, dog, driver, driving, nodogno.com, pets, seat belt, Texas