A survey by AAA and Kurgo sought to uncover the truth about how and why people drive with their pets, as well as any potential distractions their furkids might cause. The findings were interesting, to say the least; nearly 60 percent of respondents had driven with their pets in the last month, and 31 percent admitted to being distracted by their pet while driving.
Beyond potentially causing accidents, there are very real dangers to allowing a pet to sit on your lap. If a crash did occur, a small pet could easily be crushed by a deployed airbag, or thrown from the car and injured or even killed. In addition, an unrestrained dog can act as a missile during a crash. AAA notes that an unrestrained 10-pound dog, where the vehicle is only traveling at 30 mph, will exert roughly 300 pounds of pressure in a crash! So, imagine the devastation that can cause to your pet and anyone in his path.