One of the things that annoys me is seeing dogs hanging out the window and on accasions children trying to push their head through the same gap

but anything loose in the car can cause serious injury on emergency braking so I think they were right in saying that, regardless of what people say, am surprised more drivers are not told though as it happens a lot,dogs loose in cars and vans, even see many a loose dog in lorry cabs

No-one on this forum would hesitate for a nanosecond to criticise drivers using a handheld mobile phone while driving, because of the distraction. And rightly so.

Yet the same logic doesn't seem to apply to allowing an excitable animal loose and unsecured in the car's interior. I find that interesting.

Well said Andrew, I'm glad I am not the only one who thinks the same.

I often think that "Health & Safety" has a lot to answer for. Not only are the "idiots" surviving, they are now breeding!

I have to admit I don't have a dog, and it is also true that accidents happen so much so you don't even have to be in the car, you could for example be getting in the car and some mad person could cause you injury.

However

What I don't understand is why people need legislation to turn their brains on for them, it would seem common sense to me to make sure a dog or anyting for that matter cannot obstruct or in any way hinder the driver from the safe operation of the vehicle, and since a dog is a living feeling thing like children, you have to use whatever means to make sure they behave themselves while the veh is moving.

When I have my kids in the car I don't talk to them or in any way try and keep them entertained, like the dog they should sit quietly and allow me to concentrate on the driving part.

In short if ALL people kept their dogs under control there would be no need for it, but alas they don't so the gov have to do it for them, and think on this .. any item in the seating area is a weapon ( missile ) in the case of a rtc, and that includes your dog.

But I never understood dog owners, I read about how kids get mauled by dogs and the owner refuses to do anything about the dog, my opinion on this is they must love the dog more then their own kids, for me the courts would not need to put it down I would shoot the dam thing myself.

Edited by 30 yr's a Professional Driver on 19/08/2017 at 13:30

Just to clarify, when i mentioned dogs in the back of double cab pick ups earlier, i meant with a secure hardtop canopy. I wouldn't condone dogs being loose in an open pickup!.

Sheepdogs have ridden in the UK in the back of open pick ups, and previously carts pulled behind horses for ever, and long may that continue, well until they build the final gloomy indentikit housing estate amusingly called The Meadows on the very last patch of green in the land.

We couldn't do that with ours cos two spaniels and one viszla equals canine lunacy and if they saw a cat they'd all pile out whatever speed your were doing, they are however loose in the estate section of the car behind the secured dog guard.

Our border collie travels in the boot of the estate, and we have a steel plastic-coated dog guard which attaches to the fixings for the folding rear seats, and that is permanently in place.

To those that don't see an un-tethered dog as a problem just bear in mind that in the event of an accident, the dog acts identically to an unrestrained passenger or any other object, and gets launched at the headrests of the people in front of it. The recommendation in the Highway Code was introduced after a fatal accident where a husband and wife were killed in an otherwise completely survivable situation.

Much like with rear seat passengers. My philosophy is my car, my rules. You wear a seatbelt, because I don't want to die in an accident because you couldn't be bothered.

Edited by RobJP on 07/08/2017 at 13:08