About two-thirds of dog owners surveyed by the AAA organization said they routinely drive while petting or playing with their dogs, sometimes even giving them food or water while maneuvering through traffic.
It has been a common sight for many years to see dogs hanging their heads out of open car windows with their ears flapping in the breeze. But in the cocoon that the automobile has become, more drivers are nonchalantly cradling their dogs atop their laps or perching the animals on their chests with the pet's front paws clutching the driver's neck or shoulders.
It's risky behavior for the driver and dangerous for the pets, too.
An 80-pound dog unrestrained during a crash at 30 mph exerts 2,400 pounds of force in a vehicle, creating a danger for the dog and anyone in its path, according to Motivation Design LLC.
Most drivers don't realize that a dog moving around a vehicle or sitting on someone's lap can injure or kill occupants during a crash, particularly if air bags deploy.
If the animal is sitting between the steering wheel and the driver, the air bag will throw the animal back at you with great force.
DRIVE SAFE!
BUCKLE YOUR PET!
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